Winter Olympics 2026: Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds finish strongly for second GB win

Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds built on their opening Winter Olympics mixed doubles curling win as a stunning four-point haul in the penultimate end secured victory over Estonia in Cortina.

The Team GB duo – who beat Norway in their opener on Wednesday – were kept honest by the Estonian debutants, but their class ultimately told in the latter stages to force an early end to the contest and a 10-5 triumph.

«We’ve played them a lot and knew we’d have to step up our performance from last night and we did that,» Dodds told BBC Sport.

The GB duo will have a few hours off before facing the Czech Republic in their third round-robin game at 18:05 GMT on Thursday – live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

«We probably only got five or six hours sleep last night, so a nap is needed this afternoon,» Dodds added.

GB started with the hammer, took two in accomplished first end, and looked like they might enjoy a comfortable start to the day in Italy.

Estonia responded by doing the same, though, after a slight Dodds error with her last stone. «Sorry, Bruce,» said the 34-year-old, who was slightly errant again with her opening rock of the third end.

But Dodds, peerless against Norway, righted herself to deliver a magnificent final store and restore GB’s two-point advantage.

The Estonians should have pulled level again, but a Marie Kaldvee mistake ensured they still trailed at the break. «It’s been a bit of back and forth,» was how 2022 Olympic gold medallist Vicky Wright described it.

Kaldvee was slack again upon the resumption and Mouat – fuelled by an interval munch of mango – delivered with GB’s final stone to extend the advantage to 6-3 with three ends remaining.

Estonia – who overcame a four-point deficit in the final end against Switzerland in their opener – employed their powerplay in the sixth and moved back within one after capitalising on a rare Mouat error.

GB played their own powerplay in response and made full use of it, a furious double sweep by both Mouat and Dodds earning a decisive four points after some deliberation with the measuring stick.

That opened up a five-point chasm, which persuaded the Estonians to shake hands and concede defeat with an end to spare.

«That was better from me today. I had a few that slipped up, but I called myself a bad word, and moved on,» Mouat told BBC Sport.

«We’re very happy with how we’re performing and excited to get GB off on the right foot.»