After eight matches and five days of competition at the Winter Olympics, Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds have finally been beaten in Cortina.
It was Switzerland who eventually did what Norway, Estonia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Korea, Canada and the United States couldn’t in the curling mixed doubles in the Dolomites.
Their 7-5 victory will mean more to them than it would have to the Great Britain duo, as they pursue the semi-final spot that Mouat and Dodds have already clinched.
However, the Scottish pair were eager to preserve their 100% record, both to further stamp their authority on the competition and to ensure they have the hammer – the right to throw last – in Monday’s semi (18:05 GMT) and in whichever medal match they find themselves in on Tuesday.
“The energy will be electric so we’re looking forward to that and hopefully causing some drama in the stands,” Mouat told BBC Sport.
To do so, they will have to rediscover their best form against the hosts, whose every successful shot sends a cascade of noise rolling down the wooden bleachers of this quirky arena.
The Italians overwhelmed the Czech Republic at the same time as Switzerland were inflicting defeat on Team GB.
The married Yannick Schwaller and Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann started aggressively, stealing shots in both the second and third ends to establish a 4-0 advantage.
Mouat and Dodds righted themselves a little with two to go into the break at 4-2, then stole two to pull themselves level.
The Swiss nudged ahead again and, although GB took two to lead for the first time going into the final end, they were unable to prevent their opponents snatching a decisive two to close out victory.
“We put ourselves against the wall a bit,” Dodds told BBC Sport. “I had a couple of overthrows which put us in a lot of bother but we’re still in a very good position.”
Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klaebo clinched the first of a potential six gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in the 10km+10km skiathlon.
It takes the 29-year-old’s career Olympic gold tally to six, just two behind the all-time winter record.
That is held by the Norwegian trio of biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen and cross country skiers Bjorn Daehlie and Marit Bjorgen, who are all retired.
Team GB’s Andrew Musgrave came 10th in his fifth Games – just short of his best Olympic finish of seventh in 2018 – with fellow Briton Joe Davis 16th.
(BBCSport)