Great Britain Curlers Lose First Olympic Game

Great Britain's curling team, Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, lost their first game at the Winter Olympics. They played Switzerland and lost by a close score. They had won all their games before this one.
By Newsroom | Sports, Winter Olympics |

After an unbroken series of victories, the British mixed doubles curling pair Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds have experienced their first loss at the Winter Olympics. The defeat came against Switzerland in a match where the outcome was decided on the final end, marking a significant shift after their previous undefeated run.

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Performance Trajectory and Key Matches

Great Britain's mixed doubles curling team, represented by Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds, had maintained a perfect record throughout the initial stages of the Winter Olympics. Their campaign saw them secure eight consecutive wins prior to the match against Switzerland. This period of success had already guaranteed their progression to the semi-finals.

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  • The pair had previously defeated South Korea with a score of 8-2, demonstrating strong performance in earlier rounds.

  • Prior to the Swiss encounter, Mouat and Dodds had achieved five wins from five matches, highlighting their early dominance.

  • They are set to conclude their round-robin play against Italy.

The Match Against Switzerland

The match against Switzerland proved to be a close contest. Great Britain trailed for much of the game, but managed to level the score in the latter stages.

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  • The score was 4-2 at one point, with Great Britain managing to draw level before the break.

  • They took the lead for the first time going into the final end.

  • However, Switzerland secured a decisive two points on the final end to win the match 7-5.

  • This victory was significant for the Swiss team, as they continue their pursuit of a semi-final spot.

Background and Olympic Context

Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds were announced as part of Team GB for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in June 2025. This pairing has a history of success, including winning the mixed doubles world gold medal.

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  • Mouat had previously secured men's world silver.

  • Their presence at the Olympics is part of a broader Team GB contingent that includes experienced Olympic champions and debutants.

  • In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Mouat and Dodds also reached the semi-finals of the mixed doubles but suffered a defeat in the semi-final, ultimately playing for a bronze medal.

Strategic Play and Opposition

The defeat to Switzerland underscores the competitive nature of the tournament. While Mouat and Dodds had demonstrated strong statistical performances, including being ranked highly across the initial days of competition, they encountered a challenging opponent in the Swiss team.

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  • Switzerland's victory is framed as more significant for their own qualification hopes, given that Great Britain had already secured their semi-final berth.

  • The dynamics of curling matches can pivot quickly, with decisive steals on the final ends often determining the outcome.

Expert Insight

This outcome indicates that even teams with prior success and guaranteed advancement can face unexpected challenges. The ability of opponents to capitalize on crucial moments, such as the final end, remains a critical factor in high-stakes competitions like the Winter Olympics.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The loss to Switzerland marks the first setback for Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds in their current Olympic campaign. Despite this result, their earlier performances have already secured their place in the semi-finals.

  • Their remaining round-robin match against Italy will provide an opportunity to conclude this phase of the competition.

  • The team will now focus on preparation for the semi-final matches, aiming to regain their winning momentum.

  • This defeat does not diminish their overall achievement of reaching the latter stages of the tournament.

Source List

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did Great Britain win their curling match?
No, they lost their first game to Switzerland.
Q: Who are the Great Britain curlers?
Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds.
Q: Did they win any games before?
Yes, they had won all their games before this match.
Q: Will they play again?
Yes, they have already reached the next round and will play in the semi-finals.