James Clugnet and Andrew Young relished the chance to ski as teammates despite failing to qualify for the cross country men’s team sprint final.
The British pair finished tenth in their 1.5km semi-final as a broken pole for Clugnet on the second lap left them struggling to catch up with the rest of the field and the extra effort sapped their energy levels at altitude.
Only the top four and two lucky losers across the two semis raced in the final but despite missing the cut, the duo were still able to find some positives.
"It was a tough one,” said Clugnet. “When things started getting serious and the Finnish team started upping the pace, I broke a pole at the top of the hill.
"Somebody skied on my ski and my ski hit my pole. I used quite a bit of energy to try and keep up with the group, but I didn't manage to.
"I got so tired, and here at altitude, when you get tired, you never recover. Unfortunately, I didn't give the relay to Andrew in a good position so we couldn't make it through."
However, despite recording a total time of 21:15.27, approximately 58 seconds behind semi-final winners Norway, the pair were delighted to share the snow together, feeling they had built a solid foundation on which to build.
Clugnet said: "I think I should have chosen a team sport! I really like it when we are a team.
“Maybe in a couple of years we will be able to do relays as well – I really enjoy doing team events and we've done really well in the past.
“Even though today wasn't the best, I think there's some good hope for the future and I'm looking forward to another opportunity."
However, despite recording a total time of 21:15.27, around 58 seconds behind the semi-final winners and eventual gold medallists Norway, the pair were delighted to share the snow together, feeling they had built a solid foundation on which to build.
Clugnet said: "I think I should have chosen a team sport! I really like it when we are a team.
“Maybe in a couple of years we will be able to do relays as well – I really enjoy doing team events and we've done really well in the past.
“Even though today wasn't the best, I think there's some good hope for the future and I'm looking forward to another opportunity."
Andrew Young admitted he was disappointed not to have put in a faster sprint but was chuffed to make it to his fourth Olympics after a brush with Covid almost derailed his hopes of appearing in Beijing.
He said: "It has been really different to the other ones, partly because I got Covid before the Games and my expectations have been really different.
"I also think the set-up Team GB have put together this time has been the best of all four.
"It's a shame I didn't go much faster but we know why, I got sick before the Games."
Young has one more chance to show what he can do in the Chinese capital, when he competes in the 50km mass start free on Saturday alongside Andrew Musgrave.