Team GB curlers promise to be ‘tucked up early’ before Japan 'battle' after second straight win at Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics
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Published 06/03/2026 at 21:13 GMT
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The Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony takes place on Friday night but Team GB's wheelchair curling mixed doubles team are already in the thick of a gruelling campaign. A 5-4 win over the United States restored hopes of sealing a semi-final spot on Friday. Another big match is coming up on Saturday against Japan, and Jo Butterfield promised to be "tucked up in bed early".
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Team GB roared back into contention for a semi-final spot in the mixed doubles wheelchair curling at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics with victory over the United States on Friday.
The British pair of Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean began their campaign with back-to-back defeats, but a 5-4 win over the USA was their second on the trot after defeating Latvia 6-5 on Thursday night.
Although the Opening Ceremony takes place in Verona on Friday evening, curling action is already underway on the ice for the eight-team round-robin stage.
GB’s win over the United States, sealed with a superb penultimate stone from Kean, put them in a five-way tie for second place in the table behind China – who the Brits are yet to play.
With three games to go, Butterfield was more than aware that the next task could be one of the biggest, with world champions Japan coming up on Saturday at 13:35 UK time – leaving the mixed doubles team with a bit of time between matches.
"It's been quite full-on for the past couple of days, so it's nice to have a little bit of downtime," Butterfield said.
"We'll get a bit of recovery and might watch a bit of the Opening Ceremony but we'll make sure we're tucked up in bed early."
Looking ahead to Japan, she added: "It won't be an easy battle. They are the current world champions, so we know they can play well. But we have grown into this competition and I think that's our strength.
"In the past two games, we've been much more like ourselves. We've bounced off each other well, we've got good communication out there and if we play how we can play, we should do well."
The top four teams will progress to the semi-finals and there is all to play for with GB, Estonia, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States all winning two and losing two of their opening four matches.
China lead the way with a perfect four wins from four, while Italy and Latvia occupy the bottom two spots with a single win each.
"That was a tight game, it didn't come easy," Kean told the BBC after the victory.
"They were playing some great shots and we were playing some great shots. Now we're two and two. It certainly feels a lot better and inspires a bit of confidence."
Saturday marks the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, with Para Alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para snowboard and Para ice hockey events taking place alongside the curling.
Watch a daily 2026 Paralympic Games highlights show live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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