Great Britain falls short on medals target in Beijing despite curling success

Great Britain’s failure to meet its broad medals target in Beijing is sure to raise some serious questions relating to support and funding in the weeks and months ahead.

UK Sport set a target of three to seven medals in Beijing and Team GB delivered two – both in curling.

Here the PA news agency assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each of the main separately funded areas that come under the broad winter sports umbrella.

BOBSLEIGH

Funding: £120,000Grade: BDespite having funding effectively stripped in the wake of a poor Pyeongchang cycle, Brad Hall worked miracles to fashion a team that could compete close to the world’s best. His sixth-placed finish in the four-man competition was a valiant effort that will surely be acknowledged with a funding upgrade.

CURLING

Funding: £5.2mGrade: A+The emphatic over-achievers of the winter sports programme, Eve Muirhead’s gold medal and Bruce Mouat’s silver will spark calls for more cash to be be poured in and extra rinks and facilities to spring up around Britain. The country’s quadrennial love affair with curling deserves to become a much more permanent affair.

FIGURE SKATING

Funding: £40,000Grade: C+Good judges, including former Olympic champion Robin Cousins, believe British ice dancers Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are fresh and talented enough to nudge their way towards medal contention in four years’ time in Milan-Cortina. Their impressive ‘Lion King’ routine will certainly have won a few hearts back home.

SHORT TRACK

Funding: £720,000Grade: DAfter years of near-misses, short-track was a disappointment in Beijing, with only Farrell Treacy’s somewhat fortunate advance to the 1500m final to brighten the gloom. Yet short-track remains an exciting and relatively accessible sport