Great Britain – at last – has secured a Team GB gold medal of the Winter Olympics early Sunday in emphatic fashion – a day before the Games ended.
The women’s curling team took the country’s only gold for this Olympics and it was against Japan 10-3. The men’s curling team won silver on Saturday.
Vicky Wright (Eve Muirhead), Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds and Hailey Duff were the stars of China’s National Aquatics Centre.
Although Team GB’s 50 members were unable to return home with podium honors on Monday, curlers demonstrated how it works in 24 hours.
After winning Sunday’s match, Skip Eve Muirhead and Vice Vicky Wright celebrate with Mili Smith, Mili Smith, Hailey Duff, Jennifer Dodds and Jennifer Dodds.
Mail Online spoke to Bruce Mouat, the men’s captain. He said that while waiting for his flight to Beijing he was asked if curling could really be considered a sport.
Both curling teams have brought home the gongs for the country, and the interest in this sport will likely increase after the medals.
Muirhead (31 years old), from Stirling was the British Olympic captain. The gold came as a fitting reward after she had failed to win a medal in previous Olympics. She used her experience leading Olympic debutants to gold at these games.
Wright, also 28 years old, left Stirling to travel to Beijing. Wright returned to Stirling to assist with Covid-19’s battle and was a staff nursing in the Forth Valley.
Dodds, who partnered Mouat at the mixed doubles event in Beijing, became Britain’s first female representative at both disciplines of the Winter Olympics.
Vicky Wright, from Team Great Britain, competes against Japan during the Women’s Gold Medal match in Beijing
Last December was the first year that Smith’s alternate and team were formed. Rhona Howe joked that it took the team and alternate (sub) Smith 20 years to form.
Hailey Duff and Vice Vicky Wright, both from Britain, celebrate winning the game
Since the age of 8, she had dreamed of participating in the Olympics and quit her office job to become a full-time coach at Gogar Park Curling Club, Edinburgh.
Duff (25 years), from Forfar was brought up in New Zealand by her father.
Before enrolling in a degree in sports and exercise with the Open University, she worked as a buyer at a furniture manufacturer.
Jackie Lockhart (ex-Olympic Curler) told BBC that the Japanese women beat a fire team today. They were on fire.
Eve Muirhead is a believer, so just be strong and never give up.
Only December 2013 saw the formation of both team and sub Smith.
Rhona Howe was the one who skippered Team GB’s last curling gold in 2002. She joked that it took them twenty years…how long did that take?
Elle added, “Look what the team achieved in less that a year.” It’s phenomenal.’
Dodds expressed gratitude to all who watched the gold medal win until the wee hours of the morning. ‘Can I just say thank you to all our friends and families supporting us. They know how much this means to us and I’m sure they’re all jumping up and down in front of their TV screens just now.
“We build on each game. We get more and more confident in every game.
Dodds said: ‘ I don’t really know what’s happened. For a time, it won’t sink. I’m speechless.’
Japan’s Yurika Yashida steps off the ice while Britain’s competitors celebrate after the final round of women’s curling in Beijing.
Britain’s Eve Muirhead celebrated winning gold in the women’s final curling match against Japan in Beijing.
She added, “I am so proud of these young girls and how they performed in the finals and throughout the week.”
“We learned from every game and gained more confidence each game. We hoped that the final was less stressful for our families than the semi-final.
Muirhead said: ‘It’s going to take a long time to sink, I think, because I’m not sure it has yet.
“What an amazing performance today. Our best game was saved for last. It’s been a long time coming and I think for us as a team we’ve worked so hard to get here. I’m just so proud of them all.
“It’s bizarre to say the least. I can’t believe it is 20 years since Rhona achieved the Gold Medal in Great Britain. We’ve followed in her footsteps and done it 20 years later. It’s incredible, it really is.’
Wright stated, “We were confident going into that match.” The same preparations were used for each game. We just got out there and did our best.
David Murdoch, Team GB coach said that the performance was flawless. The calmness and composure were outstanding. It was clear that the group discussed the same topics throughout the week and it showed today. You could also see how relaxed all of the girls were. That was what made today successful.
“We are aware of how well they play, what they have trained for, and how much they know. It was amazing to witness the calm and hard fighting,
“Somethings are in stars,” you say. Because of all the work and sacrifices made every day, they are deserved every second of it.
They had the opportunity to show their skills and go out today and actually deliver. It was amazing.