A stunning final throw from skip Rebecca Morrison has dramatically kept Britain's Olympic medal ambitions alive in the women's curling competition, securing a crucial 8-7 victory over the United States at the Cortina Curling Stadium.
Must-Win Clash Delivers Thrilling Finish
Following two losses and four wins in their six round-robin matches, Wednesday morning's encounter represented an absolute must-win scenario for the British team. The United States drew first blood with a point in the opening end, and the contest remained tightly contested throughout the first half, with the Americans holding a narrow 3-2 advantage at the midway point.
Dramatic Turnaround in Final Ends
A two-point score for Morrison's rink in the sixth end briefly raised British hopes, but the situation appeared dire after America responded with three points in the seventh end and stole another point in the eighth. However, the final two ends produced a spectacular turnaround that electrified the stadium.
Britain scored two points in the penultimate end to level the match, setting up a tense final end where a slight wobble from the Americans presented Morrison with a golden opportunity. With precision and composure, she executed a perfect takeout shot, removing the American stone from the button to steal two points and secure the dramatic victory.
Morrison's Delight at Crucial Moment
"We were up against it coming into the last end," Morrison admitted afterwards. "Stealing two is never easy but we knew there was an outside chance and we gave ourselves that chance with how the end panned out."
She described her mindset during the crucial throw: "In the hack, you just have to stick to your processes and think about how you're going to come out and make the shot. Afterwards you hope for the best, but I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome there."
Morrison rated it among her finest throws, particularly given the high-pressure Olympic context. "I think, considering the situation, it's up there for sure," she said. "I think that was one of the most electric moments we've had as a team. The crowds just lit up there and that was so fantastic for us. Yeah, absolutely overjoyed with that."
Teammate Praises High-Tariff Shot
Jennifer Dodds, the sole remaining member of Britain's 2022 gold medal-winning team, emphasized the extraordinary difficulty of Morrison's final shot. "In the 10th end of an Olympic Games, to keep your chances alive, that is a very high-tariff shot," Dodds explained. "You need to hit a third of the stone and out there for a line you don't really play often."
Critical Games Ahead for Semi-Final Hopes
The victory sets up two crucial remaining round-robin matches that will determine Britain's semi-final fate. The team faces Japan on Wednesday evening and Italy on Thursday afternoon, with victories in both games essential to advance.
Dodds emphasized the team's focused approach: "One game at a time – I'm just going to use that classic. We know we still need to win the next two games. We have got one tonight against Japan so we'll need to step up our game. Becca played great that game and the three of us kind of struggled a wee bit."
The British rink, featuring Morrison, Dodds, Sophie Jackson and Sophie Sinclair, now carries renewed momentum into these decisive encounters, having demonstrated remarkable resilience under Olympic pressure.
