Olympic Bronze Medal Evades Mouat and Dodds Once More in Curling Disappointment
History delivered a cruel and familiar blow to British mixed doubles curling stars Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds, as they missed out on an Olympic medal for the second consecutive Games in a heartbreaking bronze match defeat.
Dominant Round-Robin Form Falters at Critical Moment
The Scottish duo, who are the reigning 2021 world champions, had swept through the preliminary stage with immense authority, securing eight victories from their nine round-robin encounters. This outstanding performance earned them the coveted top seeding heading into the knockout phase of the competition in Cortina.
However, their formidable rhythm deserted them at the worst possible juncture. The first setback arrived in Monday's semi-final, where they suffered a heavy 9-3 loss to Sweden's Rasmus and Isabella Wranaa. This was a particularly bitter pill to swallow, as Mouat and Dodds had previously defeated the same Swedish pair 7-4 during the group stage.
Painful Echoes of Beijing Resurface in Cortina
That semi-final defeat triggered haunting memories of the previous Olympics in Beijing, where an identical scenario unfolded. In China, they let a lead slip against Norway in the semi-final, forcing them into a tense bronze medal contest, only to see that opportunity vanish against a motivated Swedish team.
The ghosts of that past disappointment seemed to re-emerge on Tuesday during the bronze medal match. Facing Italy's reigning world and Olympic champions, Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, the British pair sought to avenge their own round-robin loss to the Italians.
Italian Champions Seal Victory with Clinical Precision
In a tightly contested and nervy encounter, the Italian duo demonstrated why they hold the top titles, securing a narrow 5-3 victory. Mouat and Dodds appeared to lack the same assertive confidence that had characterised their earlier performances in the tournament.
By contrast, Stefania Constantini delivered a near-flawless display, culminating in a perfect final stone that landed precisely in the centre of the house to clinch the match and the bronze medal for Italy. This decisive shot extinguished British hopes and confirmed another agonising fourth-place finish for the talented curling partnership.
The result marks a significant setback for Team GB's curling ambitions at these Games, especially given the high expectations surrounding Mouat and Dodds following their dominant start. The pair will now face a period of reflection as they process this repeated Olympic disappointment, despite their proven world-class ability and previous successes on the global stage.
