GB curlers face heartbreak for the second consecutive Olympics as Canada denied Bruce Mouat's world champion rink the gold medal they craved, winning 9-6 in a tense final. The Scottish quartet will leave Cortina with silver medals again, extending Great Britain's 102-year wait for men's Winter Olympic curling gold.

So Close Yet So Far

Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie - plus alternate Kyle Waddell - arrived in Cortina as world champions and favorites, believing this was finally their time. After the pain of losing to Sweden in the Beijing 2022 final, the GB curlers had dominated the sport, winning two World Championships, European crowns, and a record 12 Grand Slam titles.

I'm a bit in shock. I think we felt like we were the better team. I don't know what to say, a tear-choked Mouat told BBC Sport after the defeat. The GB curlers had battled through a tumultuous tournament, nearly suffering a shock early exit as recently as Thursday before recovering to guarantee a medal.

After defeating Switzerland in an epic semi-final on Thursday, Mouat referred to it as our gold medal. That confidence was founded in fact - the GB curlers boasted an excellent record against the Canadians and beat them in last year's world semi-finals. But Olympic finals are different.

Final Ends in Disappointment

The final followed a familiar pattern for the GB curlers. They led 5-4 after six ends following a fabulous Mouat double-takeout, with the hammer advantage in two of the final three ends. But they could not capitalize.

Just one point in the eighth gave Canada the opportunity they needed, and 2014 gold-medallist Brad Jacobs' team seized it ruthlessly. Capitalizing on some slack stones in the ninth, Canada led 8-6 going into the final end.

Mouat had the hammer but needed two to force an extra end. Could the man considered the best shot-maker in the world come up with the goods in the biggest moment? He couldn't. And for the second Olympics in a row, the GB curlers were left with a medal they did not want.

Canada's Redemption

The victory marks redemption for Canada, who have had a tumultuous tournament themselves amid cheating claims earlier in the competition. Jacobs' experienced team defeated the GB curlers twice in five days, including their round-robin meeting where Britain led after six ends before slipping to a 9-5 defeat.

Canada's ability to perform under pressure when it mattered most proved the difference. While the GB curlers dominated the sport between Olympics, the Canadians found their form on the biggest stage.

The Pain of Second Place

For the Scottish quartet, the pain of another silver medal cuts deep. We wanted to win it for each other, an emotional Hardie told BBC Sport. The pain from four years ago was so much that we wanted to give it another go. We gave ourselves a chance but unfortunately we've not got there again.

The GB curlers' story is one of dominance between Olympics but heartbreak on the biggest stage. They have been the best team in the world since 2022, but Olympic gold remains agonizingly out of reach.

For Gen Z sports fans, the GB curlers represent the cruel reality of elite competition - sometimes being the best isn't enough when the pressure is highest. The 102-year wait for British men's curling gold continues.

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