Vicki Chalmers backs Team GB’s curlers to stay at the top for ‘quite a while’ despite Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics final heartbreak
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Published 21/02/2026 at 23:34 GMT
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Team GB's tear-stained curlers were backed to recover from their heartbreaking final defeat by TNT Sports' Olympic bronze medallist Vicki Chalmers. Bruce Mouat and his team led entering the ninth end but lost out to a more experienced Canadian team, with Grant Hardie and Hammy McMillan overcome on the podium as the latter said it would take "a lot longer" than four years to move on.
Watch as Canada celebrate curling gold after pipping Team GB in tense final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Olympic bronze medallist Vicki Chalmers backed Team GB’s dejected men's curlers to bounce back following their final defeat to Canada at Milano Cortina 2026.
Bruce Mouat, Bobby Lammie, Grant Hardie and Hammy McMillan were consigned to their second successive defeat in an Olympic final, with Hardie and McMillan shedding tears on the podium as they collected their medals.
The reigning world champions played almost a perfect game apart from in the ninth end, when Canada scored three points that ultimately won them the gold medal as Team GB went all out at the death but could not quite dislodge the last opposition stone.
But Chalmers, who medalled at Sochi 2014, cited Canada’s greater experience as a reason for optimism that Mouat and his team can continue to fight for the biggest prizes.
"They might not see it right now, but it is a massive achievement," Chalmers said. "They are clearly disappointed, you can see the emotion on their faces.
"But they will reflect on it, grow from it, get better from it. They have still got plenty of fuel in the tank to keep them going for longer. These boys will be around. They are at the top of their game now and they will stay there for quite a while, I think.
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"I do not think they are going to want a third silver medal to add to the collection. They will work really hard, I have no doubt about it.
"Those guys are going to go home, they will have a good debrief of what went well, what did not go so well and then put a plan in place for moving forward."
Tearful McMillan: Defeat will fuel me
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McMillan admits getting over silver will take 'a lot longer' than four years
Video credit: TNT Sports
McMillan said that he will be thinking about Team GB’s gut-wrenching curling final defeat to Canada at Milano Cortina 2026 for "a lot longer" than the four years it took him to get over his last silver medal.
Having been defeated in an extra end at Beijing 2022, McMillan was once again forced to settle for silver despite believing his team brought their "A-game" to the nailbiting contest.
"It took me four years to get over the first silver, so it will probably take me a lot longer this time," McMillan told TNT Sports. "Gutted, obviously did a lot of really good things out there today, really felt we did bring our A-game there for eight ends and unfortunately gave away a three in the ninth.
"And we really got something going there in the tenth as well. I thought Bruce was going to have a shot for maybe a three to bring it home, but we were, I guess, the wrong side of an inch in the final tonight.
"We will put on a brave face for standing on the podium. It will hurt but we will see the family tonight, we will probably have a few drinks, but we cannot do this without everyone at home supporting us."
Dodds: 'I was crying' listening to Team GB interviews
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'It's going to hurt' - Dodds was 'crying' listening to Team GB interviews
Video credit: TNT Sports
It has been a tough Olympics for Jennifer Dodds, the only surviving member of the British women’s team that won gold four years ago, as she finished fourth alongside Mouat in the mixed team event before Team GB’s women were eliminated in the round-robin.
And speaking to TNT Sports’ Laura Robson, Dodds said she felt all of her compatriots’ disappointment and pain after the final at Milano Cortina.
"For the last four, even nine years since they came together, this was the one thing they wanted, Olympic gold," Dodds said. "And I know it is going to hurt, it is going to hurt for a while because they were so close.
"Two silver medals off two Olympics is something to be proud of, but I know for them just now, that does not matter. They wanted that gold and I just feel for them so much.
"Listening to the interviews I was crying, and I think that just shows how close we are. We're all in it together and I am super proud of the boys. They have done us proud this week."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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