Watch Winter Olympics: GB's men to face curling play-off

Sofia Goggia saw off the challenge of American Lindsey Vonn to become the first Italian to win the women's downhill earlier.

And she took inspiration from the usual source - noble Japanese warriors.

"I was really giving attention to every little detail, moving like a samurai, usually I'm pretty chaotic," she said.

"Samurai are really perfect. They move with elegance. I'm not elegant but I paid attention at every moment to what I was doing. I was in the zone."

Norway still lead in this first semi-final. You can watch on the Red Button or at the top of the screen. Skiing uphill looks immensely hard every time you see it...

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More from Lindsey Vonn, speaking to BBC Sport: "I'm sure my Dad is going to find something I did wrong - he loves to be critical! It meant a lot to me that he was here.

"We had some rough times and he wasn’t in Vancouver when I won so it meant a lot to me that he was here.

"We’ve all been really emotional because of my grandfather. It meant a lot for us all to be here all together. It’s a really emotional day."

Vonn's racing helmet has the initials 'DK' and a heart drawn on them, in memory of her grandfather Don Kildow, who died in November.

Norway's Marit Bjoergen has set off like a scalded cat. On skis.

She already has seven Olympic golds to her name...

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An emotional Lindsey Vonn, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was intense. I think mostly it was intense because I wanted to win for my grandpa.

"It’s hard to process it’s my last Olympic downhill race. I really want to keep racing forever, but I can’t.

"I’m really proud to walk away with a medal. I'm sure a lot of people will say I should have gotten a gold but it’s so hard to win a medal at the Olympics."

GOAT = Greatest Of All Time by the way.

See Valentino Rossi...

Just about to start is the women's team sprint cross country.

The team sprint features two semi-finals and a final – they are mass starts.

Each nation can have one team, comprising two athletes, who each take three turns to ski.

The top two teams in each semi-final, plus the six fastest losers (from 3rd to 8th), progress to the final.

Easy! GB does not have a team competing.

An interview with Lindsey Vonn is being played out on BBC Two at the moment. Emotions were running high.

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Lindsey Vonn won bronze in the women's downhill this morning, and opened up over the criticism she has been taking on social media.

Vonn said earlier this week that she is hurt by accusations she is anti-American because of her stance on US President Donald Trump.

"I think the most important thing on social media is to be who you are and remember that everything on social media lasts for ever," she said.

"It can be used in a very positive way if you’re a good person, but it just feels recently as if it's taken a different turn and I hope it turns around and that instead of tearing people down we can build people up. That’s what sport’s about. It’s hard for me to understand the thought process behind the savage abuse I've taken on the internet. In real life most people wouldn't say that to me, to my face.”

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On what her message would be to her online abusers:

“Man, take a walk in my shoes. I will not be beaten. I stand strong and I'm proud of what I represent and who I am, and I'm very proud to hold the American flag on the podium. All Americans deserve to hold the flag and to be proud of their country, no matter what their beliefs because that’s what makes America great."

British figure skater Penny Coomes on Instagram: "Sometimes things don’t go the way you want them to; the last year and a half has definitely taught me that... but I have also learnt that beauty blooms in adversity.

"After I broke my knee, during my road to recovery I envisioned what my Olympic Moment would be, and while I am so proud of what Nick and I put out there, the result wasn’t what I had hoped for.

"I wanted to be an inspiration for young people around the world and I am so grateful that the Olympic stage allowed me to share my story and to inspire the next generation.

"I am deeply humbled by the overwhelming amount of messages I received, and I want to say thank you to you all for making my Olympic Moment so special, and for making me feel so proud... and to me, that’s beautiful."

@pennycommes

Penny and Nick Buckland just missed out on a top-10 finish in the ice dance competition yesterday

The women's bronze match is under way!

British curling skip Kyle Smith speaking to BBC Two: "It was a disappointing performance to be honest. Sometimes it's just not your day.

"We struggled to create anything. We got a couple of fortunate steals but we didn't make enough of the simple shots and gave away a few simple twos and threes.

"It's almost the same situation as today - we have to win [against Switzerland.] It's how we will be approaching things.

"We will have to talk about that game [against USA] and what we could do differently.

"We will try and learn what we can from that game so we can take it into the game against Switzerland."

BBC

So Britain's men face an extra game, but the women are into the last four home and dry.

Watch some of Eve Muirhead's best shots as Great Britain beat Canada to secure a place in the women's curling semi-finals at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang a little earlier on.

WATCH MORE: Christie's heartache, halfpipe heroes & France's GOAT

Yes, the rules are a little bit confusing when it comes to sorting out teams tied on points.

I'm still a little lost regarding the men's GB curling team. If USA can go through due to beating GB and the Swiss, why don't we go through below USA for also beating the Swiss?

Why do we have a play off when we've already beaten Switzerland?

USA, Switzerland and GB all finished level on points. The US beat both the other two teams and go through. GB beat the Swiss, the Swiss lost to both of the other two teams.

Therefore, GB play the Swiss in a play-off at 00:05 GMT TONIGHT.

Finland beat OAR 5-1 in the group stage and thrashed Sweden 7-2 in the quarter-finals so will go into the game as likely favourites.

07:40-10:00: The first Olympic ice hockey medals will be up for grabs, with Finland up against the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the women's bronze match.

There was an element of mixed feelings for GB women's coach Glenn Howard this morning - GB went through, but at the expense of his nativa Canada.

Canada have been on every Olympic podium since the sport was reintroduced to the Games in 1998, and they are the reigning men’s and women’s champions.

But they are toast.

"It's obviously huge for us, and unfortunately, massive for Canada," said Howard.

"It's knocked Canada out and of course I have a few mixed emotions. Too bad it had to be Canada, but we've got a job to do and I'm really proud of the girls."

"The ladies' field, anybody could have won. Just because you've got the maple leaf on your back doesn't mean you're a guaranteed medal. Anybody in Canada who thinks that, they've got another thing coming because those days are gone.

"In the grand scheme of things, I'd probably still say that the Canadian trials are harder than the Olympics, but that being said, you've still got to come here and beat the teams, and the quality of play I've seen here is exceptional."

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If you're just joining us on this chilly Wednesday morning, here's what you may have missed overnight...

Sofia Goggia saw off the challenge of American Lindsey Vonn to become the first Italian to win the women's downhill.

Great Britain beat Canada to secure a place in the women's curling semi-finals at the Winter Olympics.

The men's team missed out though. They lost to the US and now face a play-off.

Great Britain's Billy Morgan has qualified for the Winter Olympics' inaugural men's big air final.

And Brady Leman won the men's ski cross to secure Canada's ninth gold medal of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Roberto: Curling is a bit too shouty for 7 am in the morning.

Manning: Disappointing result for Team Smith but it's not over yet. Win the rest and it's still gold for Team GB. Keep going guys!

BBC Sport

Not what GB fans wanted to see this morning. USA are through, GB must wait.

Cheers Steph.

When in doubt, consult Team GB themselves...

So yep, if you can't read that tweet, GB will play Switzerland in a play-off tomorrow.

I still have a hunch that GB are through regardless of that defeat, but there is lots of talk about a play-off.

When in doubt, assume that I am wrong.

The man who might have the answers is Tom Rostance...

Nowhere near from Kyle Smith, giving up four points and a 10-4 deficit.

The US think it's game over with two ends to spare . "Keep your hand in your pocket," says Smith.

Cooler heads prevail, though and Smith calls it a day.

Great Britain must wait to learn their fate...

Blimey. Four US stones in the house. Only one GB brick to play. If Kyle Smith gets this wrong, this game is as good as over...

Great Britain's Chef de Mission Mike Hay on BBC Radio 5 live: "It was a great victory for the women. Eve Muirhead is probably better known in Canada than Great Britain. I'm very surprised Rachel Homan and Canada haven't handled things that well and find themselves out of the competition with a game to go.

"I think they'll [the women] go into the semi-final boosted that they are playing great curling."

Don't quote me on this, but I think results ate conspiring so that GB can lose this and still go through. With the way the results have fallen and are falling, GB, the US and Switzerland would be tied on five wins, with only two spaces in the last four available. Both the US and GB have beaten Switzerland, so the Swiss would go out.

I think...

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One it is. GB further behind. They are three ends to turn this one around or we may have to start doing some maths. We could end up with four teams tied on five wins, with only three of them able to go through.

One stone each left in the end. Smart money would be on the US taking a single point, but they have thumbed their noses at my theories in this match...