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Team GB Remains Medal-less, Yet Historic Olympics Still Within Reach

The Winter Olympics have presented challenges for Team GB, with three fourth-place finishes and a disappointing figure skating outing, yet numerous medal opportunities remain.

Mia Brookes is a top contender for a medal in the snowboard slopestyle event, with her skills and experience making her a strong possibility for a podium finish.

Great Britain has consistently punched above its weight in winter sports over the years, achieving impressive results despite the lack of ideal training conditions.

The country's athletes have overcome the limitations of few snowy mountains and no ice track to become world champions, X Games medallists, and World Cup podium finishers.

However, the current situation is reversed, with Team GB facing challenges and setbacks in their pursuit of medals.

Many had expected Team GB to have secured at least three to four medals by now, but the tally remains at zero, leaving fans and supporters waiting for a breakthrough.

There have been several near-misses, including fourth-place finishes for freestyle skier Kirsty Muir, snowboarder Mia Brookes, and curlers Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, as well as a narrow loss for figure skaters Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in the ice dance event.

These close calls highlight the fine margins that separate success and disappointment in winter sports.

Kirsty Muir's experience in the slopestyle event is a prime example, where a mere 0.41-point difference separated her from a bronze medal.

A slight error on her final run, where she squatted on a landing, ultimately cost her a spot on the podium.

Mia Brookes, on the other hand, took a bold approach in her final big air run, attempting a competition-first backside 1620 trick with four-and-a-half rotations.

Although she over-rotated at the last moment, a clean landing would have likely secured her a medal.

The outcome could have been different if she had executed the trick flawlessly, demonstrating the tiny margins that separate medal winners from those who miss out.

In the past, Team GB has benefited from such fine margins, as seen in Jenny Jones's bronze medal win in the slopestyle event at the Sochi Games 12 years ago, where she edged out her competitor by just 0.25 of a point.

Jones reflected on her experience, telling BBC Sport that she could have easily finished fourth if her competitor had not made a mistake.

Jones noted that the competitor who finished fourth had performed a bigger trick, but a slight error, such as dragging her hand, made the difference.

According to Jones, the mental aspect of competing in the Olympics plays a significant role, with athletes needing to have the right mindset to perform at their best.

Jones emphasized that all the athletes are capable of achieving great things, but it ultimately comes down to who has the mental advantage on the day of competition.

Rather than being disappointed, Jones believes that Team GB's athletes should be celebrated for their impressive performances on the world stage, with much to look forward to in the future.

The story of how British skeleton has bounced back from challenges in 2022 is a testament to the team's resilience and determination.

The women's curling team has its sights set on a medal, with the athletes acknowledging that there are multiple paths to success in the sport.

Team GB is at the forefront of innovation in curling, with the team investing in the latest technology and strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Britain's best Winter Games medal haul is five, achieved at both the Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 Games, but UK Sport had set a target of up to eight medals for the current Games.

While reaching eight medals may now seem ambitious, a record-breaking performance is still within reach for Team GB.

Dame Katherine Grainger, chair of the British Olympic Association, stated that questions will be asked if the team fails to deliver a record-breaking performance, given the significant investment of £25.5m in Olympic winter sports over the past four years.

Dame Katherine emphasized the importance of accountability, saying that the use of public funds comes with a responsibility to ensure value for money and deliver inspiring performances.

As a former Olympic medalist, Dame Katherine acknowledges the high expectations surrounding Team GB, given the talent and potential within the team.

She recognizes that the team's capabilities will inevitably attract scrutiny, and it is essential to understand what goes wrong if the expected results are not achieved.

Dame Katherine reiterated that the potential for a record-breaking performance is real and that the team has a responsibility to deliver on that promise.

While it is too early to have conversations about what went wrong, the potential for a strong finish remains, and the team is focused on making the most of the remaining opportunities.

With several medal chances still to come, Team GB is poised to make a significant impact in the remaining events.

The team's prospects are looking promising, with key events approaching, including the men's and women's skeleton competitions.

The competition schedule includes men's heats on 12 February, followed by the mixed team event on 15 February.

Matt Weston is currently in top form, leading the men's skeleton after two of four races, and is a strong contender for the gold medal.

As a two-time world champion and three-time overall World Cup title winner between 2023 and 2026, Weston has consistently demonstrated his exceptional skills.

This season, he has won five out of seven World Cup golds, with the other two events resulting in silver medals behind team-mate Marcus Wyatt.

Weston's impressive performance puts him in a prime position to win the skeleton gold, with his experience and talent making him a favorite to take the top spot.

The women's skeleton competition is scheduled to take place on 13 and 14 February, with the mixed team event on 15 February.

Tabby Stoecker has shown promising form, finishing in the top three in all six official women's training runs, including two first-place finishes.

With one World Cup victory and two World Championship silver medals in the mixed team event, Stoecker has proven her capabilities and is expected to team up with Weston in the mixed event.

The partnership between Stoecker and Weston is likely to be a strong one, as they prepare to compete in the Olympic debut of the mixed team event on Sunday.

The snowboard cross event is one of the competitions to watch, with athletes vying for top honors on the slopes.

Mark your calendars for 13 February, when the women's snowboard cross event takes place, and 15 February, when the mixed team competition gets underway.

In 2021, Charlotte Bankes secured the world championship title in snowboard cross, and two years later, she teamed up with Huw Nightingale to claim the mixed team title.

Bankes has had a successful run in the World Cup, winning the Crystal Globe twice and finishing as the runner-up in the overall standings in both 2024 and 2025, despite being sidelined by a collarbone injury last season.

Following her recovery from injury, Bankes recently scored her first win in January, marking a strong return to competition.

Another thrilling event is freestyle skiing's halfpipe, which promises to deliver high-flying action.

The halfpipe competition is scheduled to take place on 19 February for qualifying and 21 February for the finals.

Reigning world champion Zoe Atkin is a top contender in the halfpipe event, bringing a strong track record to the competition.

This season, Atkin has already achieved three podium finishes in as many World Cup starts, including a gold medal, demonstrating her consistency and skill.

Atkin's recent victory at the X Games has further solidified her position as a favorite to win, adding to her impressive collection of accolades.

The slopestyle snowboarding event is another highly anticipated competition, with athletes showcasing their skills on the slopes.

The qualifying round for slopestyle is set for 16 February, with the finals taking place the following day, on 17 February.

Mia Brookes, who narrowly missed a medal in big air, is considered a strong contender in the slopestyle event, which is her preferred discipline.

At just 16 years old, Brookes made history in 2023 by becoming the youngest world champion in snowboarding, winning the slopestyle gold medal.

Brookes has also won back-to-back Crystal Globes in big air and recently claimed World Cup gold in December, as well as slopestyle gold and big air bronze at the X Games, showcasing her versatility.

The big air freestyle skiing event is another competition to watch, with athletes pushing the limits of what's possible.

The big air competition is scheduled to take place on 14 February for qualifying and 16 February for the finals.

Kirsty Muir, who was disappointed to miss out on a slopestyle medal, will have another opportunity to shine in the big air event.

Muir is a two-time World Cup gold medalist, with her most recent win coming in the big air event in Secret Garden, China, in November.

At the recent X Games in Aspen, Muir won gold in slopestyle and silver in big air, demonstrating her ability to excel in multiple disciplines.

The Winter Olympics will take place from 11 to 22 February, featuring a wide range of events and competitions.

The British men's curling team, led by Bruce Mouat, is the reigning world champion, having also won the title in 2023.

The team has a strong track record, having won three consecutive European titles from 2021 to 2023 and claiming silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

In their opening match, the team defeated China 9-4, getting their campaign off to a strong start.

Brad Hall's two-man and four-man bobsleigh teams are also ones to watch, having consistently performed well on the World Cup circuit in recent years.

Hall's teams will begin their competitions on 16 February for the two-man event and 21 February for the four-man event, looking to build on their past successes.

After a disappointing mixed doubles event, Jen Dodds will look to bounce back in the women's curling competition, as she joins Team Morrison in their bid to defend the gold medal won by Eve Muirhead's team in Beijing.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available, providing a comprehensive overview of the events and schedule.

The full schedule, including times for medal events, can be found online, helping fans plan their viewing.

The Winter Olympics 2026 medal table will be updated throughout the competition, tracking the progress of teams and athletes.

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GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

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A daily guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the action.

The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

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Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.

The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.

In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.

Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.

He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.

A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.

The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.

The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.

Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.

The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.

The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.

The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.

Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.

The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.

The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.

The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.

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Golfer McIlroy Sinks Bunker Shot at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, capping off his opening round with a score of 68.

During the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, contributing to his first-round score of 68.

For further information, Rory McIlroy had a solid opening round, while Hisatsune took the lead.

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