Winter Olympics closing ceremony LIVE: Team GB women win first gold medal in curling as Beijing Games end

Follow latest updates from Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 as Team GB chase their first medal of the Games

Watch live outside China’s National Stadium as Winter Olympics come to close

Great Britain’s women, led by Eve Muirhead, went one better than the men in their gold medal match against Japan at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The men’s team fell short yesterday when Sweden claimed gold to deny Bruce Mouat and his team. Swedish skip Niklas Edin proved too good and repeated their victory over Great Britain in a 2014 semi-final. Muirhead overcame almost impossible odds to steer her women’s curling team into the Olympic final where she completed an incredible journey to finally fulfil an ambition that appeared beyond her after a decade at the top of her sport. Team coach Murdoch put her chances of salvaging victory at “less than 10 per cent” after shipping four shots in a disastrous opening end to defending Olympic champions Sweden, but they clawed back to clinch a thrilling 12-11 victory in an extra end.

In the final, Muirhead guided Great Britain to their first and only gold of the Games, beating Japan 10-3 to claim the joint-biggest margin of victory in a final since the sport was reintroduced in ‘98. With all events now closed and the medals handed out, it only remains for the closing ceremony to take place and the baton to be passed on to Italy.

Follow live coverage from the Winter Olympics below:

Winter Olympics: Final day and Closing Ceremony

• REPORT: Muirhead leads Great Britain to first gold medal at Winter Olympics in women’s curling
• Team Hall leads Britain to sixth in four-man bobsleigh as Germany secure gold
• Team GB beaten by Sweden in men’s curling final
• Team GB react to winning gold medal in women’s curling
• Muirhead backed to become ‘greatest of all time’ after adding Olympic gold to major titles
• Closing ceremony underway in Beijing

[19 February 2022 08:14 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Britain did very little wrong in that first half, with 88% accuracy, but Sweden have raised their game here for the final with 94% accuracy, and there is not much GB can do but stay in touch and hope the tide turns.

Britain in action (EPA)

[19 February 2022 08:11 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 2-3 Sweden (half-time)

Sweden opt to knock out Britain’s final stone and wipe out their own with it, in order to cause a scoreless end and retain the hammer (the final stone of the next end). That’s an important advantage for the Swedes, with a narrow lead on the scoreboard too, and it’s fair to say they are in control of this Olympic final with five ends to go.

[19 February 2022 08:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 2-3 Sweden (5th end)

Sweden are hitting their marks time after time, shooting at 95% accuracy. Britain just need to cling on here and make sure they capitalise when the Swedes drop their standard. There are two stones left each in this end and the house is completely empty after a destructive stone by Sweden’s Rasmus Wranaa. Sweden have the hammer...

[19 February 2022 07:58 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 2-3 Sweden (after four ends)

Bruce Mouat curls in the hammer towards the button needing to nail the centre for a point. The team sweep hard as it runs out of steam and dies level with the Swedish stone. Who’s won it? Both teams look from overhead and eventually call for a measure. This is tense... a man with the giant measuring contraption marks Britain’s stone and then swings its arm around inside of Sweden’s stone, meaning GB have the point. A crucial one, and they close the gap. GB 2-3 Sweden.

[19 February 2022 07:52 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-3 Sweden (4th end)

Sweden up next, trying to plot their way out of this one... they hit the widest yellow stone of GB and bounce inside neatly.

4th end, Sweden (red) to play (Olympics.com)

[19 February 2022 07:46 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-3 Sweden (4th end)

A big end now for Britain, who could let this final run away from them if they’re not careful – although yesterday’s women’s semi-final showed how much can change in the final few ends.

Sweden put two stones in the house and Bobby Lammie attempts to nudge one out, but slightly misses his mark and Sweden have the advantage. With the next stone Oskar Eriksson, a man with sensational hair, makes a bigger mistake and gets his angles wrong, over-curling to knock out his own stone and leave Britain with one on the bottom. Advantage GB, and a real chance to get back in the game.

[19 February 2022 07:39 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-3 Sweden (after three ends)

Britain have the hammer and a tricky position – Sweden have managed to take control of the house and what Bruce Mouat needs to do is make sure they don’t make any mistakes or risks with this shot. After a long discussion the team settle on something a little more straightforward, but Mouat doesn’t quite get the turn and Sweden’s stone clings on to the button to take a point against the hammer. A big steal for the Swedes and that’s a blow for Team GB.

Great Britain’s Hammy McMillan (left) and Bobby Lammie in action (PA)

[19 February 2022 07:22 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-2 Sweden (2nd end)

Sweden always had the edge in that end and they clinch two points with the hammer – GB 1-2 Sweden after two, eight to go.

[19 February 2022 07:15 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-0 Sweden (2nd end)

Britain have not quite been able to nail their shots in this second end, Grant Hardie the latest to just miss his mark by a fraction. Two stones each to go and Sweden have control of the house.

[19 February 2022 07:06 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Men’s curling final: GB 1-0 Sweden (1st end)

So this first end is nearing its conclusion. Each team have one stone remaining and Britain have control of the house. The Swedes use theirs to knock out GB’s central stone and it means Britain will have the opportunity to draw into the button for one point... team skip Bruce Mouat nails the shot and GB take a 1-0 lead. Not a dominant start but important to get a point on the board with the hammer in the first end.