Winter Olympics live results: Team GB endure mixed fates in curling as UK Sport defend medal-less Games

Finland launched an offensive assault to overpower Switzerland 4-0 on Wednesday and claim the Olympic women’s ice hockey bronze medal, their fourth in the event.

Viivi Vainikka slipped the puck past Swiss goaltender Andrea Braendli midway through the first period to draw first blood for the Finns, who unleashed a barrage of 47 shots on goal throughout the affair. Finland netminder Anni Keisala faced just 15 shots but turned away all of them to record her second shutout of the Games.

“It’s always great to play a bronze medal game in an Olympics, but to get a shutout makes it even sweeter,” said Keisala.

The Swiss put up an admirable defensive effort in the second period but buckled in the third, as Finland launched their final assault.

Italy might have to do without Arianna Fontana, their most decorated female Olympian, at their home Games in Milan and Cortina in 2026 as a dispute with the national skating federation remains unresolved.

The 31-year-old, who made her Games debut in 2006 in Turin, has collected 11 Olympic medals – more than any other short track athlete – after taking silver in the 1,500 metres.

She trains in Hungary following a dispute with the Italian national skating federation, which opposes her choice of husband Anthony Lobello as coach, and accusations of aggression against her while training on the ice.

Last week she said “some things” needed to change and it appeared on Wednesday that they have not yet.

“Things with the federation are what they are and the president said he’ll do everything he can but that I have to stay in the system, which I left to be here and successful,” Fontana told reporters.

“If they start like that there’s no way I’m gonna be there as an athlete (in 2026).”

The world’s eyes will once again be fixed on Kamila Valieva tomorrow morning as the Russian competes in the free skate. The 15-year-old, who has been cleared to compete despite failing a drugs test, leads the standings after an impressive performance in the short programme considering the extreme scrutiny on her shoulders.

That showed in the tears that followed the end of Valieva’s routine and the IOC reaffirmed today that there will be an “asterisk against the result” of the competition, which will not have a medal ceremony if Valieva makes the podium, as is widely expected.

Bruce Mouat’s men’s curling team will be hoping to end Team GB’s medal drought when they compete in the semi-finals at around midday, but Eve Muirhead’s rink must defeat Russia and then hope other results fall their way to make the playoffs.

There will be six gold medals up for grabs in total on Thursday: Alpine skiing (women’s combined), freestyle skiing (women’s ski cross), figure skating (women’s), ice hockey (women’s), Nordic combined (team), speed skating (women’s 1,000m).

The live action from Day 12 at the Winter Olympics is drawing to an end.

Great Britain’s medal wait goes on after Dave Ryding finished 13th in the men’s slalom.

GB’s men’s curling team remains right in contention, though, after they defeated the ROC in their penultimate round robin match.

But there was no such joy for Eve Muirhead’s side as they suffered a surprise defeat against China that leaves their hopes of reaching the playoffs on very precarious ground.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s Choi Min-jeong successfully defended her title in a thrilling 1500m final in the short track speed skating as Canada came out on top in the relay.

There was cause for celebration for home supporters too as Qi Guanpu produced a momentous jump to clinch gold in the men’s aerials.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo furthered his legacy as one of the great cross-country skiers as he powered Norway to victory in the men’s team sprint classic, while Germany triumphed in a spectacularly close finish in the women’s race.

There was also a one-two for the USA in the freestyle skiing men’s slopestyle as Alexander Hall beat teammate Nicholas Goepper to gold.

Choi Min-jeong takes gold! The defending champion successfully defends her title. She reasserted her position brilliantly after Hutong’s early charge and opened up a gap with two laps remaining. Schulting attempted to fight back but she’s pipped to second place by Fontana.

There’s a dramatic start as the two South Koreans take position at the front, only for Hutong to try and race clear and break away from the field. Schulting goes after her, the charge relents, and now they’re bunched at the front again.

Now the finalists walk out onto the ice as they are announced one by one. The biggest cheer is reserved for China’s Han Yutong.

Min-jeong is the defending champion, Schulting is the world champion and Lee Yubin has been the world No 1 this winter. What a race we have in store.

Those skaters will take to the track any minute now. The B final to decide places 7-14 had to take place first though and hardly amounted to a competition. Japan’s Sumire Kikuchi stormed into an early lead and almost lapped the entire field!