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20th Feb 2022

Team GB finally takes the gold at Winter Olympics

Kieran Galpin

This was the first victory in the sport in 20 years

Team GB’s curling team, headed by Eve Muirhead, has taken the gold for the first time since Rhona Martin’s historic victory in 2002.

After dominating Japan 10-3 on February 20, Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and Mili Smith secured the biggest winning margin in a final since the sport was reintroduced in 1998.

This brings Muirhead’s Olympic journey to a climax, having been the youngest to win a curling title in 2013. From 2014 Muirhead only managed to secure bronze and later lost to Japan four years ago in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.

From failing to secure a place n Beijing through last year’s World Championships to a rocky start in the qualifying tournament, Team GB has shown resistance in the face of opposition.

Muirhead took to Twitter following their victory, where she wrote, “We did it! Olympic Champions. So so proud of this team!” alongside an image of the team.

Fans have begun sharing in the victory, with Scotsman photographer John Devlin tweeting: “Joy. That’s a cracking pic. Well done, team.”

“Curling! What a brilliant sport this is,” tweeted sports pundit veteran Clare Balding.

Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: It’s Gold! Congratulations to @Team_Muirhead on a fantastic result in the #curling final. Great teamwork with an inspirational skip @EveMuirhead. #TeamGB.”

Similarly, Radio presenter Colin Murray wrote: “Absolutely awesome Eve Muirhead, Vicki Wright, Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff!

“Bossed that final. The 4 in the 7th end was the moment!

“Absolute scenes! Party time!”

Sharing in this historic moment, CBC’s Olympic reporter Devin Heroux tweeted: “Eve Muirhead thought her Great Britain team was all but eliminated after losing a fourth loss.

“They squeaked into the playoffs on a last stone draw tiebreaker.

“Now 20 years after Rhona Martin’s stone of destiny in Salt Lake, it’s going to be gold for Great Britain in Beijing.”

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