More than six million pairs of eyes were glued to their television sets across the country as the clock ticked past midnight.
Not since the famous Davis v Taylor 1985 World Snooker Championship final had so many people been gripped by a sporting event which saw them sit down to watch it one day, and finish watching it the next.
But in February 2002, as the 21st became the 22nd back in the UK, Team GB’s skip Rhona Martin (now known as Rhona Howie), found herself more than 5000 miles away from her native Scotland in Ogden, Utah, with a shot at greatness.
Team GB had not won a Winter Olympic gold medal in 18 years.
Not since Torvill and Dean skated their way to the top of the podium at Sarajevo 1984 had a Team GB representative stood on the top step but Howie, who hails from a small village called Dunlop in East Ayrshire, was to change all that alongside her teammates.
However, her journey to Olympic glory had not been a smooth one.
Howie started curling at 16 at the Greenacres club in Howwood, East Renfrewshire, and battled her way to the top of the sport. She had to contend with the death of her father Drew, who had been present throughout her career, in 1994.
Howie’s mother Una highlighted the bittersweet nature of her daughter’s gold medal success occurring without him there to see it.
“It is a brilliant achievement, but I am sad that her dad did not live to see the girl who was the apple of his eye win gold,” she said.
In contrast, for Fiona MacDonald, knowing her father Martin was there when she and her team claimed gold, made the moment all the more special.
"I could hear people shouting out, cheering the team on, although I could not hear my father,” she said.
"But just to know he was here was fantastic."
But before Howie, and her teammates, MacDonald, Janice Rankin, Debbie Knox and Margaret Morton, had even got to the USA, selection, injury and illness all provided her with a hurdle to overcome.
Things may have been different if Julia Ewart had not missed her chance to bag an Olympic spot at the 2001 World Championships, but her team failed to make the podium after an 8-4 loss to Sweden in the semifinals and a 7-6 defeat to Denmark in the bronze-medal match.
Yet, as the saying goes, if you cut one head off the Hydra, two more return in its place and, for Howie, those two heads came in the form of a severe knee injury 10 months out from the Games and a stomach bug that threatened her participation on the eve of their first match.
But ever the fighter, Howie made sure she was there for the start, but conceded it was touch-and-go at times.
“It was never meant to be easy,” she recalled years later.
“It was hard to get there, even with a bit of funding, and even then, when we finally got to Salt Lake City I came down with a horrible illness.
“I was in hospital a couple of days and we tried to keep it secret. But there was actually a point where I worried I might have to pull out.
“But I guess those tricky things in life make it that bit nicer when it all just works.”
Even after her North American exploits in the early 21st century, Howie has been faced with further challenges to overcome.
Her marriage to now former husband Keith broke down in 2005 due to the pressures that came with the collapse of his business.
There was also a period when she had a stalker which required the intervention of the police to stop. And to top it all off, in 2014, Howie had her gold medal stolen from Dumfries Museum where it was on display, a moment which left her devastated.
“It was really sad,” she explained. I just thought I would get it back. I never did.
“I have seen the footage, and my heart just sank. There was three of them hitting the display with a sledgehammer to prise it open.
“I used to love taking the medal to schools for kids to see. I got a replica after a while from the IOC — it is half the size, half the weight, no ribbon. It was not the same, but it was something.”
But despite everything that Howie has been through, no one can take away her memories of 2002.
Having won their opening match 10-6 against Norway, a 7-4 defeat against 1998 Nagano bronze medallists Sweden reminded Team GB just how difficult the task ahead was.
But when Howie needed her teammates the most, they delivered.
MacDonald’s astonishing shot-making percentage of 96 was the highlight of her team’s 9-1 win over Japan during draw three, while Rankin showed her grit and skill during their 9-4 defeat to favourites Canada and was responsible for all four of her team’s points.
Then, in the next match against Switzerland, Rankin’s near-perfect 80 was the foundation of Team GB’s 7-4 triumph, while a complete team effort and an overall average of 81 saw off Denmark 8-6.
Yet, as Howie’s story pre and post 2002 Salt Lake City has proved, challenges lie at every turn, and after 6-5 and 7-5 losses to USA and Germany respectively, destiny was no longer in Team GB’s hands. But destiny has a funny knack of happening regardless of how seemingly unlikely. And it did just that.
Had Germany beaten Switzerland in the 12th draw, Howie and co would have been eliminated. However, because the Swiss came through 10-4 and Sweden beat Russia 9-6, a three-way playoff was required.
First they beat Sweden 6-4 and then German 9-5 to reach the semi-finals. Once again, adversity had brought out the best out of Howie and her team and that continued in their encounter against their group-stage conqueror’s Canada.
But lightning did not strike twice for Kelley Law’s side as Team GB snatched victory 6-5 with Howie scoring the important winning point.
They had done it. Team GB had reached the Olympic final, but Howie, MacDonald, Rankin and Knox were not done there.
After seeing their 3-1 lead evaporate during a tense and low-scoring final, Howie was left with one final stone to win it.
In the tenth and final end, and with the scores level at 3-3, Howie knew a draw shot to the button would win the gold.
“It was not the easiest shot to play because I could not hit it on the nose,” Howie said when recalling the most famous shot of her career.
“I was panicking.
"It was just a case of having faith that I could do it.
“I was confident all the way as it went down the ice.
“I was happy when I played it, it was on the right line.
"I could not see it because of the sweepers' legs, but I knew it was good when they jumped in the air."
Just like that, history was made.
Not bad for a group of housewives from Ayrshire, eh?
And for Rankin’s son Jamie, who curled for Great Britain at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, his mum’s achievements still come up in conversation, with one piece of advice standing out.
“Sometimes, I will ask Mum about the Olympics if I want to know more about her experiences,” he said.
“She will share information whilst we are doing things in the house and her advice is always to enjoy the moment.”
It is fair to say, Rankin, alongside Howie, MacDonald, Knox and Morton know all about what it is like to enjoy the ultimate moment.
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