Winter Olympics closing ceremony LIVE: Team GB women win first gold medal in curling as Beijing Games end
Follow latest updates from Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 as Team GB chase their first medal of the Games
Great Britain’s women, led by Eve Muirhead, went one better than the men in their gold medal match against Japan at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The men’s team fell short yesterday when Sweden claimed gold to deny Bruce Mouat and his team. Swedish skip Niklas Edin proved too good and repeated their victory over Great Britain in a 2014 semi-final. Muirhead overcame almost impossible odds to steer her women’s curling team into the Olympic final where she completed an incredible journey to finally fulfil an ambition that appeared beyond her after a decade at the top of her sport. Team coach Murdoch put her chances of salvaging victory at “less than 10 per cent” after shipping four shots in a disastrous opening end to defending Olympic champions Sweden, but they clawed back to clinch a thrilling 12-11 victory in an extra end.
In the final, Muirhead guided Great Britain to their first and only gold of the Games, beating Japan 10-3 to claim the joint-biggest margin of victory in a final since the sport was reintroduced in ‘98. With all events now closed and the medals handed out, it only remains for the closing ceremony to take place and the baton to be passed on to Italy.
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Former GB Olympian Jackie Lockhart reacts to gold medal
Jackie Lockhart: “I cant be any happier for both the women and the men. What a result for British curling.
“It was such a dominating performance today.
“What a journey they have been through in these last couple of years and it just shows you the strength and resilience you have to have to make it all the way through.”
Team GB women receive gold medals after winning curling final at Winter Olympics
Team GB react to winning gold at Winter Olympics
“I'm speechless, I'm so proud of these girls,” Jennifer Dodds says.
Hailey Duff adds: “We did what we needed to do. I don’t really know what’s happened. It’s weird.”
Rhona Martin reacts to Team GB winning gold at Winter Olympics
“It was incredible. We were confident, they were in complete control,” Rhona Martin said.
“It’s just amazing. Eve finished eighth at the World Championships, they got the dynamic right here.
“It’s phenomenal. That shakeup, moving players about, freshening things up.
“How good is this for sport in Great Britain. We couldn’t ask for much more.”
Winter Olympics curling final: Team GB win gold medal after 10-3 victory over Japan
Team GB have done it! Eve Muirhead guides Great Britain to first gold medal at Winter Olympics.
Incredible scenes here, jubilation as the entire team huddle together.
Winter Olympics curling final: Team GB 8-3 Japan - 8th end
Muirhead can draw for a two here. Incredible.
What an opportunity for the skip to seal the deal here.
Winter Olympics curling final: Team GB 8-3 Japan - 8th end
There’s almost a nervous smile across the faces of Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds and Hailey Duff.
The ninth end is going to play now too. The house has been cleared out mostly. Just a solitary Japanese red at the back.
Wright sends one down at pace and it clatters away the last remaining Japanese guard stone. Superb. Remember, GB have the hammer too.
Winter Olympics curling final: Team GB 8-3 Japan - after 8th end
Japan nibble away at the lead, but it’s still in Great Britain’s hands.
Five up with two ends to play. It’s surely inevitable now.
Winter Olympics curling final: Team GB 8-2 Japan - 8th end
Muirhead eliminates the last red in the house for Japan.
Problems for the Japanese, this is there for the taking for Team GB.
That is magic from Fujisawa Satsuki! A lovely draw nestles on the button.
Great Britain have two yellows just before that red. One stone left each.
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