Murdoch devastated by another Olympic campaign failure

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

DAVID Murdoch struggled to hide his emotions as Great Britain's men's curling team saw their medal ambitions ended by ice cool Sweden.

DOWNCAST: British skip David Murdoch and Euan Byers in tactical talks during a narrow tie-breaker loss to Sweden, which confirmed their Olympic exit (Getty Images)

Four years ago Murdoch admitted he was 'heartbroken' after losing a bronze medal play-off to the United States in Turin.

But he rebounded to win two World Championships in three years, in addition to securing the European title, meaning he arrived here as Britain's top gold medal prospect.

However, defeat to Sweden - in a match to decide who would face favourites Canada in the semi-finals - means his performance in Vancouver is even more disappointing than 2006.

"We've trained six days a week for the last two years and we've come into these Olympics as world champions but the week just didn't go for us," said Murdoch.

"This feels as bad as Turin, maybe even worse. When you sacrifice so much and train as hard as we do, it's hard to take and it's going to take a long time to get over.

"We should have beaten more teams this week but we didn't finish games off in the way we usually do.

"It's heartbreaking, it's the worst thing possible for our team."

Murdoch admits he would like to go on for a third crack at winning an elusive Olympic medal and will be 35 when the Games are next staged in Sochi.

But coach David Hay admits the same might not go for the all the rink, including Ewan MacDonald, Euan Byers, Peter Smith and alternate Graeme Connal.

"Sochi is four years away and there is a lot of thinking ahead for all of us," said Murdoch, who will return home next week to defend his Scottish title, with qualification for the World Championships in Cortina at stake.

"The thing missing for me is still an Olympic medal, so we have a big discussion about what we'll do next.

"I would like to go back, we are more than capable but we need to be a little sharper in Olympic week."

Murdoch admitted he paid the price for a sluggish start against Sweden and despite rallying, coach David Hay claimed that was the decisive factor in the 7-6 extra end defeat.

"We were poor in all ten ends against Norway and poor in the first five ends against Sweden - that is why we are not in the semi-finals," he said. 

"We had two really, really poor misses in the first and third end and a questionable tactical decision in the fourth end.

"We came here with only one thing in mind - winning gold and not to do it is incredibly disappointing."

 Swedish skip Niklas Edin was rightly buzzing following his win and claims he has nothing to fear from Martin’s Canada, who are unbeaten at these Olympics.

"It's going to be tough for us but all teams in the semis have a shot,” he said. 

“We need a good start and get some breaks and maybe we have a chance to beat them.

"They are the best team here, but we have nothing to lose and they have everything to lose."

 

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day 13 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver