Crucial Day for Curlers, Sleders and Skaters

by James Skitt - 24.02.10

Team GB men’s Curlers face Sweden in a play off for a semi final place whilst women’s bobsleigh World Champions Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke face an uphill task if they are to get into the medal picture, currently lying 10th going into the final two runs of the competition later today.

Cooke and partner Minichiello, who has worked with English Institute of Sport (EIS) Strength & Conditioning Coach Mark Campbell over the past two years at EIS Sheffield, are 1.38 seconds off the pace set by the Canadian crew of Kallie Humphries and Heather Moyes, and are just 0.18 seconds ahead of GBR2 crew Paula Walker and Kelly Thomas, who lye one place below them in 11th.

But the current world champions were still in confident mood going in the final day. "Until we've crossed the finish line at the end of fourth run we're still shooting for the gold medal. That's what we're going for and that's what we've always been going for” said Minicheillo.

"On this track anything is possible. Let's see who is still standing at the end of four runs tomorrow.”
“Being world champions gives us the confidence to know we can beat the best in the world. We’ll use everything we’ve learned to make sure we nail it tomorrow.”

Elsewhere the men’s Curling team, who receive Performance Psychology support from EIS Psychologist Kate Goodger alongside their support through the SportScotland Institute of Sport (SIS), know they must beat Sweden in today’s play off if they are to progress in the competition following yesterday’s 5-9 defeat to Norway.

Team GB skip Dave Murdoch said: “We play Sweden and we just have to see it as another game. At least we are not out of it that’s the main thing. Hopefully we will win that game.”

“If we win we would play Canada in the semi finals. We like playing them, it always brings the best out in us. It is not something we are scared of and if we played Kevin it would be one almighty game.”

Two of Britain’s speed skaters return to action later at the Pacific Coliseum as John Eley competes in men’s 500m whilst Elise Christie goes in the women’s 1000m, her third event of the Games.

Another multi eventer back in action later is skier Chemmy Alcott, who goes in her fourth and penultimate event of these games in the giant slalom having already finished 11th in the super combined, 13th in the slalom and 20th in the super G.

To discover more about the role played by the EIS in the preparation of Team GB’s Bobsleigh, Curling and Short track Speed Skating athletes click on the appropriate feature link

Photography © Getty Images