British hopefuls chase Olympic curling glory in Beijing
Rhona Martin led Great Britain to gold in Salt Lake City.
‘Stones of Destiny’ have proved elusive for Great Britain in the 20 years since more than six million viewers stayed up after midnight to watch Rhona Martin conjure her famous final act of the Olympic women’s curling final in Salt Lake City.
Two medals in Sochi in 2014 went some way to satiating the nation’s quadrennial bout of curling-mania, but with three genuine medal prospects heading into Beijing, Britain has arguably never had a better chance of re-living Martin’s success.
On the eve of the start of the mixed doubles competition in the Chinese capital, the PA news agency brushes up a timely reminder of what to expect – and why another late-night curling extravaganza may prove impossible to resist.
Now or never for Eve
Mouat the merrier
Swede dreams
Five-time world champion Niklas Edin, whose Sweden team denied Mouat in Calgary, will start as strong favourites for what would be a first Olympic gold, with Switzerland and defending champions the USA also fancied. Sweden are also favourites in the women’s event but watch out for South Korea’s ‘Garlic Girls’, who lit up Pyeongchang and will be looking to retain that momentum after coming through qualifying.
Oh Canada
Curling calamity struck the sport’s traditional super-power in Pyeongchang where, despite winning the inaugural mixed doubles competition, they failed to medal in either the men’s or women’s team events for the first time. Brad Gushue, a gold medallist in 2006, will return to lead the men’s team while 2014 winner Jennifer Jones returns in the women’s event.
