2026 Winter Olympics: Bruce Mowatt responds as favorite men’s curling team starts winning
Bruce Mowat bounced back from the mixed doubles disappointment at the Winter Olympics in some form, putting in an impressive display to lead the Great Britain men’s rink to a 9-4 win in their opening match against China.
Just over 24 hours ago, Mowat and Jane Dodds stumbled into the bronze medal match at the Cortina Curling Arena for the second straight Games.
But the 31-year-old showed why he is considered one of the best players in the world, as the gold medal favorites started strongly in their bid to raise the bar for the silver they won in Beijing four years ago.
The Scots, world champions in three of the past five years, exchanged points with China in the first two games, before seizing three points in the third period, an advantage they will never give up.
They led 5-2 at the break, then a brilliant double shot and a great closing layup from Mowat extended the lead to 8-3 after seven.
A wise set of throws limited the Chinese to one in the eighth but GB closed out the ninth end, taking one to force a round of handshakes with a spare end.
It always seemed like a mismatch, and it proved so. But the toughest test awaits on Thursday, when Mowat and Sons face Sweden – who beat them in the 2022 final – at 13:05 GMT live on the BBC.
