More Olympic disappointment for Murdoch

David Murdoch (centre)
12 April 2012

David Murdoch suffered more acute Olympic disappointment as Great Britain's men's curling team failed to live up to their reputation as world champions and slid out of the competition before the medal stage.

Murdoch's men were beaten 7-6 by Sweden in the extra end of their play-off, with the prize at stake a semi-final match against Canada on Thursday and at the very least a play-off for the bronze medal.

It is the second Olympic nightmare for Murdoch, who was in a similar position as the pre-Games favourite when he headed to Turin four years ago, only to fall short and lose the third-placed play-off to the United States.

Murdoch and team-mates Ewan Macdonald, Euan Byers and Peter Smith played an awful first five ends against the Swedes and although they clawed their way back level, their opponents kept their nerve to win the sudden-death decider.

Murdoch said: "It's heartbreaking - it's the worst result possible as far as the team is concerned.

"We just put ourselves in a position where every game mattered so much at the end of the week. We had our backs to the wall and we just didn't finish off matches the way we're used to.

"We did everything we possibly could for the last two years. We trained six days a week and practised as much as we possibly could and came into this week as world champions. But sometimes weeks just don't go for you."

Murdoch's men will be expected to regroup to play in the Scottish Championship play-offs just 48 hours after their arrival back in Great Britain - with the prize at stake the chance to defend their world title in Italy.

As for the longer term, Murdoch refused to rule out the possibility of captaining the British team to Sochi in four years' time and continuing to chase the one major medal that still eludes him.

Murdoch added: "Sochi's four years away and there's a lot of thinking time before that. The thing missing for me is an Olympic medal. I'd certainly like to go back. We're more than capable - we just need to be sharper in Olympic week."

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