Team GB in Beijing: Mouat hits back in style with men's rink well placed on Day 7

Beijing 2022 11 Feb 22

Team GB's men's curling rink took a big leap towards semi-final qualification after bouncing back from defeat to USA with a powerful performance against Norway.

Bruce Mouat's men put their morning reverse to Team USA behind them as they overpowered the Norwegians 8-3 to leave them joint second in the standings, with two wins from three.

Here's what happened on Day 7.

  • Team Mouat rebound well

  • Team Muirhead lose out to Korea

  • Cross-country skiers Musgrave and Young seek improvements after 15km classic

  • Weston and Wyatt fail to hit the high standards they set themselves

  • Deas and Crowley slide into view

  • Day 8: No Fear for Figure Skating duo and Bankes is back for more

MOUAT MASTERCLASS GETS BOYS BACK ON TRACK

Team GB men’s skip Bruce Mouat insisted his rink got a wake-up call as they returned to winning ways with a crushing victory over Norway.

Mouat ordered extra coffees for his team after they were caught slumbering in an early morning match with the USA, slipping to a narrow 9-7 defeat.

But nine hours later - after some strong caffeine and words - they were wide awake against Steffan Walstad's Norway claiming an 8-3 victory, inspired by a brilliant two point steal on the fourth end to put them right in the mix for the top four.

Read more about the men's curling here

MUIRHEAD UNDETERRED BY KOREA LOSS

Eve Muirhead is resolutely confident that her rink can progress from the women's curling round robin despite defeat to Korea - after all they've been here before.

To rubber stamp their place at these very Games, Muirhead, Jen Dodds, Vicky Wright, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith had to bounce back from a shock defeat to Turkey in the Olympic Qualifying Event, before launching a supreme winning streak to book their plane tickets to the Chinese capital.

She said: "We’ve had a very tough start but it’s nothing we’ve not done before and we know what we need to do and that's to come out a little bit sharper from the start.”

Read more about the women's curling here

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MEN'S SKELETON DUO

Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt could not hide their disappointment after finishing 15th and 16th in the men's skeleton.

The duo have had successes on the World Cup circuit, Weston becoming the first Brit to win gold in 13 years in Igls in November when he tied with two other rivals.

And Wyatt took silver in the Olympic test event in October but neither were able to get up to speed with the Germans who claimed a one-two at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.

DEAS AND CROWLEY SLIDE INTO VIEW

Olympic bronze medallist Laura Deas and teammate Brogan Crowley kicked off their women's skeleton campaigns on Friday.

Deas came third in PyeongChang after stringing together the runs of her life as Lizzy Yarnold defended her Olympic title.

However, she found it hard to replicate that form since and is ranked 31st for this season and sits 21st after two runs with Crowley 22nd.

Both women will need to slide into the top 20 to guarantee a spot in the fourth run tomorrow.

MUSGRAVE AND YOUNG LOOKING TO RESPOND

Cross-country skiers Andrew Musgrave and Andrew Young are hanging tough in Beijing and both believe they can pull out strong results to end their fourth Olympic appearances.

The 15km classic was a tough day at the office for both, neither favouring the distance or the technique, with Musgrave 46th and Young, who is still struggling with the after-effects of contracting Covid last month, 51st.

Read more about the cross-country skiing here

DAY 8: FEAR AND GIBSON END WAIT TO SKATE AS BANKES GETS SECOND SHOT

Ice dancers Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson begin their campaign with a Kiss-themed rhythm dance, hoping to build on a seventh-placed finish at the World Championships.

And Charlotte Bankes gets another shot at the snowboard cross as she rides alongside Huw Nightingale in the mixed team event making its debut at the Olympics.

Bankes was gutted to exit at the quarter-finals in the women's event after having a superb World Cup season including three wins and will look to bounce back at the Genting Snow Park.

Laura Deas and Brogan Crowley take to the ice for their third skeleton with a bit of work to do to climb inside the top 20 and guarantee that they will slide in the fourth and final heat.

While Cornelius Kersten, who recorded Britain's best speed skating result since 1976, in the 1500m returns in the 500m final.

Finally, Team Muirhead will look to get back to winning aways after defeat to Korea when they play USA in the Ice Cube on Saturday night.