After eight games over five days at the Winter Olympics, Bruce Mutter and Jane Dodds were finally beaten in Cortina.
Ultimately, Switzerland did what Norway, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, South Korea, Canada and the United States failed to do in the mixed doubles curling competition in the Dolomites.
advertise
Their 7-5 victory meant more to them than the British pair as they competed for the semi-final spot already secured by Mouat and Dodds.
However, the Scottish pair are keen to maintain their 100% record, both to further cement their authority in the competition and to ensure they have the hammer – the final throw – in Monday’s semi-final (18:05 GMT) and Tuesday’s medal race.
Mouat and Dodds will have another chance to do both when they end the round-robin tie against Italy at 18:05 – live on the BBC.
“The energy source will be electricity, so we’re looking forward to that and hopefully causing some drama in the stands,” Mouat told BBC Sport.
advertise
To do so, they must rediscover their best form against the hosts, whose every successful shot sends a cascade of noise through the wooden stands of this quirky arena.
Italy defeated the Czech Republic, while Switzerland defeated Great Britain.
Yannick Schwaller and Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann got off to a positive start, stealing shots in the second and third periods to build a 4-0 advantage.
Mouat and Dodds slightly turned the situation around with two points, entering the halftime break 4-2, and then stole two points to equalize the score.
Switzerland took the lead again and although Great Britain took a two-point lead for the first time heading into the final, they were unable to prevent their opponents from scoring the decisive two points to seal victory.
advertise
“We were in a bit of a bind,” Dodds told BBC Sport. “I had a couple overthrows that caused us a lot of trouble, but we were still in a very good position.”
[BBC]
Klebaugh wins first of six gold medals
Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klaebo won the first of six gold medals in the 10km + 10km ski combined event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
That brings the 29-year-old’s career Olympic gold medal tally to six, just two shy of the all-time winter record.
The event is held by a trio of Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen and cross-country skiers Bjorn Daehlie and Marit Bjorgen, both of whom have retired.
advertise
GB’s Andrew Musgrave finished 10th in his fifth race, just shy of his best finish of seventh at the 2018 Olympics, while fellow Brit Joe Davis finished 16th.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit disappointed,” Musgrave told BBC Sport after the game.
“I felt like the first part was too fast and I struggled immediately – it was hot and I was overheating.
“After the first lap, my chance of doing well was gone.”
Mathis Desloges was spared a penalty for taking a shortcut on the track and won silver, giving France its first medal, with Norway’s Martin Lowstrom Nyenget third.
