ALTENBERG, Germany (AP) — Britain's Matt Weston is the World Cup men's skeleton overall champion, again. And for the first time, Belgium's Kim Meylemans is the World Cup women's overall champion.
Locking up their status as favorites for Olympic gold at next month's Milan Cortina Games, Weston and Meylemans clinched their seasonlong titles Friday in the final races of the World Cup season at Altenberg, Germany.
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Kelly Curtis of the U.S. competes in the Women's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Kelly Curtis of the U.S. reacts after placing second in the Women's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Winner Matt Weston of Great Britain celebrates after the Men's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Britain's Matt Weston races down the track, during the men's single, 1st run of the Skeleton World Cup, in Altenberg, Germany, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Meylemans was third in Friday's women's race, behind Germany's Jacqueline Pfeifer and Susanne Kreher. That was more than enough to ensure Meylemans would end the season ahead of Pfeifer — a three-time World Cup overall champion — in the season standings, and Britain's Tabitha Stoecker finished the season third.
Britain's Marcus Wyatt won Friday's men's race and Weston finished in a three-way tie for second with German teammates Christopher Grotheer and Axel Jungk.
Weston took the overall title with China's Zheng Yin second and Wyatt placing third.
The U.S. skeleton team won't formally announce its Olympic team until Monday, but Friday's finishes make it somewhat obvious that Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro — the top two American women in the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation rankings — will be headed to the Milan Cortina Games.
Curtis was 17th on Friday, two spots ahead of U.S. teammate Sara Roderick and three spots ahead of Ro — who teamed with Austin Florian to win last year's world mixed skeleton championship. Florian also is a likely Olympic team nominee and was 14th in Friday's men's race.
USA Bobsled and Skeleton was waiting for word from the IBSF if it was getting a second men's Olympic quota spot as well.
Luge: World Cup men’s singles, women’s singles Saturday at Oberhof, Germany.
Bobsled: World Cup monobob, two-man races Saturday at Altenberg, Germany.
Skeleton: World Cup season complete, Olympic races at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy from Feb. 12-15.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Kelly Curtis of the U.S. competes in the Women's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Kelly Curtis of the U.S. reacts after placing second in the Women's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Winner Matt Weston of Great Britain celebrates after the Men's Skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Mayk Wendt/Keystone via AP)
Britain's Matt Weston races down the track, during the men's single, 1st run of the Skeleton World Cup, in Altenberg, Germany, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
HAVANA (AP) — Tens of thousands of Cubans demonstrated Friday outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana to decry the killing of 32 Cuban officers in Venezuela and demand that the U.S. government release former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
They crowded into the open-air “José Martí Anti-Imperialist” plaza across from the embassy in a rally organized by the Cuban government as tensions between Cuba and the U.S. spike following the U.S. attack Jan. 3 on Venezuela.
The 32 Cuban officers were part of Maduro’s security detail killed during the raid on his residence in Caracas to seize the former leader and bring him to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
“Humanity is experiencing something very complex, and (the US) is governed by a president who considers himself an emperor,” said René González, 64, one of the protesters.
“We must show him that ideas are worth more than weapons," he said. "This march is a message of our unity. Independence is sacred, and we will defend it tooth and nail if necessary.”
Cuba’s national hymn rang out at Friday’s demonstration as large Cuban flags waved in the chilly wind and big waves broke nearby along Havana’s famed pier. President Miguel Díaz-Canel shook hands with members of the crowd clad in jackets and scarves before speaking to them.
“The current U.S. administration has opened the door to an era of barbarism, plunder and neo-fascism,” he said.
The demonstration was a show of popular strength after U.S. President Donald Trump recently demanded that Cuba make a deal with him before it is “too late.” He did not explain what kind of deal.
Trump also has said that Cuba will no longer live off Venezuela’s oil and money. Experts say the move could have catastrophic consequences since Cuba is already struggling with severe blackouts.
“No one here surrenders," Díaz-Canel said. “The current emperor of the White House and his infamous secretary of state haven’t stopped threatening me.”
Washington has maintained a policy of sanctions against Cuba since the 1960s to pressure the island's government to improve its human rights record, end its one-party communist system and allow democracy. The sanctions have been further tightened during Trump’s presidency, suffocating the island’s economy.
“Cuba does not have to make any political concessions, and that will never be on the table for negotiations aimed at reaching an understanding between Cuba and the United States,” Díaz-Canel said. “It is important that they understand this. We will always be open to dialogue and improving relations between our two countries, but only on equal terms and based on mutual respect.”
After the president's speech, the demonstration transitioned into a parade that Cubans call a “combatant march,” a custom that originated during the time of the late leader Fidel Castro. The crowd was led by a line of people holding pictures of the 32 officers killed.
“Down with imperialism!” the crowd yelled. “Cuba will prevail!"
The demonstration was organized a day after tens of thousands of Cubans gathered at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Armed Forces to pay their respects to the 32 officers slain.
Their remains arrived home on Thursday morning, and they are scheduled to be laid to rest on Friday afternoon in various cemeteries following memorial ceremonies in all of Cuba’s provincial capitals.
Associated Press reporter Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed to this report.
Soldiers carry photos of Cuban officers killed during the U.S. operation in Venezuela that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Urns containing the remains of Cuban officers, who were killed during the U.S. operation in Venezuela that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, are displayed at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Luis Banos)
