Team GB’s curling skip Ross Whyte believes the team are in good shape for the mixed team knock-out stages at Lillehammer 2016 after taking their unbeaten run to five games with two wins on the last day of round robin action.
The quartet of Whyte, Amy Bryce, Callum Kinnear and Mili Smith beat Estonia 8-2 in their first match of the day before a 9-3 win over Czech Republic meant the team finished with six wins from their seven games.
A second place finish in Group B now sets up a quarter-final clash with Russia, who finished third in Group A with the same win-loss record as Team GB, yet Whyte believes the team won’t be phased by tomorrow’s crunch knock-out fixture.
“To get six wins from seven is fantastic and we’d have taken that at the start of the week. I’m really pleased and we’re already thinking about the quarter-final,” said Whyte.
“We’ve watched a few ends of the other group but we’ve mainly been focusing on our matches but knock-out won’t change the way we play.
“We’ve been winning so we don’t want to change too much. It feels amazing to be so close to a medal shot but our focus is on Russia and our next match.
“We’re well supported here by family and teammates and it really helps. Sometimes you look up at the crowds cheering for you and you just have to smile.”
Elsewhere, Isobel Brown’s hopes in the ladies’ ski cross were ended early through injury with the Derbyshire skier pulling out during the third round robin race.
Despite the disappointment, Brown insisted the experience of a Youth Olympic Games would play a key role in her development beyond Lillehammer 2016.
“It’s good fun racing against the best girls in the world and it has been really interesting learning from them around tactics. The Games themselves has been a really good experience and I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Brown.
“It’s been good mixing with the other sports, whether that’s training with the alpine skiers or watching the curling and it gives you a different perspective on how different athletes prepare and go about their business.”
Alpine Skiing: Ladies’ Giant Slalom, 09:00-12:10 GMT; Yasmin Cooper
Curling: Mixed Team Quarter-Final, 12:30 GMT; Ross Whyte, Amy Bryce, Callum Kinnear and Mili Smith
Luge: Mixed Team Relay, 08:30-09:30 GMT; Lucas Gebauer-Barrett