Team GB have sealed an emphatic 8-2 win over Olympic champions Sweden in the women’s team curling as they bounced back from their round-robin opening defeat by Switzerland.
Eve Muirhead quest for a curling medal at her fourth Olympics got off to a rocky start on Thursday before a thumping victory over the Swedes got Great Britain back on track after two games played.
It was a huge response from the Brits as they managed to get under the skin of the defending champions early on in their encounter, with Anna Hasselborg smashing her broom against the floor in frustration as Team GB took an early 1-0 lead.
Team GB have beaten defending champions Sweden in women’s team curling round-robin
Sweden did manage to respond though, as they drew level at the end of the third.
However, Muirhead answered back by removing Sweden’s stone from the house leaving Great Britain with four stones and a heft 5-1 advantage.
Muirhead then delivered the knockout blow by sliding a perfectly-weighted stone into the house to close out an emphatic 8-2 win on Thursday.
While Muirhead and Co were able to celebrate the day with a win, the four-athlete team – that includes Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright and Hailey Duff – suffered a 6-5 extra-end defeat earlier in the day.
The four-athlete team put on a masterclass in the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing
Team GB stars celebrate as they finish the Thursday session with one win from two games
Muirhead who missed out on a mixed medal earlier this week, refused to be too downhearted about the defeat.
‘They are never easy to judge,’ Muirhead said of the crucial shot. ‘Unfortunately it didn’t come off. If I ever had a shot like that again, I’m confident I would make it.’
Muirhead, who won a bronze medal as skip of a different team in Sochi in 2014, reached Beijing under the radar after being forced to battle through a final qualifying event.
But she believes her inexperienced squad has the right mentality to move into contention for one of the top four play-off slots and with it a shot at a potential second Olympic medal.
That win came after Team GB were defeated by Switzerland in round-robin opener
‘There’s a lot of hunger here,’ added Muirhead. ‘A fourth Olympic Games is something that you dream of coming to.
‘I’m very glad that I’ve got the opportunity to be here with four girls at their first Olympic Games.
‘I’m proud of them, how much they’ve come along and fought and they deserve their spot in the team.’
