Team GB secure second medal of Winter Olympics as women’s curlers win epic semi-final

Great Britain have secured a second Winter Olympics medal after the women’s curling team beat reigning champions Sweden in an epic semi-final.

Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff recovered from losing the first end by four points to seal a thrilling 12-11 win over Sweden in Beijing.

Team GB only narrowly progressed to the knockout stages on the Draw Shot Challenge tie-breaker, after a final victory over the Russian Olympic Committee took their record to five wins and four losses.

Great Britain will face Japan in Saturday’s final with the winner taking gold and the loser claiming the silver medal.

Bruce Mouat’s men’s side are also guaranteed at least a silver medal after beating the United States of America in their semi-final match.

It was a nightmare start for Muirhead’s team in the Ice Cube in Beijing, with Team GB conceding four in the first end as Olympics champions Sweden took a significant early lead.

But Great Britain responded instantly with three in the second end and limited Sweden to just one from the next three ends to level the semi-final at 5-5 at the halfway stage.

Sweden stopped Great Britain’s momentum with a two in the sixth, but Team GB levelled it up with two of their own as the match reached its crescendo.

In a seemingly decisive ninth end, a superb final throw from Muirhead secured Great Britain four points to lead 11-8 going into the last, but Sweden responded and forced a decider with a brilliant three in the 10th end.

Team GB were not to be denied a place in the final, however, and safely negotiated the deciding end with the hammer to secure a medal.

Sweden will now drop into the bronze-medal play-off against Switzerland, who lost to Japan in the other semi-final.

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