MacDonald roars back as GB seek curling bronze

Published on Friday 24 February 2006 11:55

SCOTS curler Ewan MacDonald looks a new man after overcoming his semi-final disappointment.

Dejected immediately after Great Britain's last-four loss to Finland, there was no doubting his resolve not to leave Torino empty handed today.

As Great Britain were preparing to take on the United States in the bronze medal match at Pinerolo this afternoon their vice-skip was feeling positive. "Obviously the immediate thought after we lost to Finland was getting home as quickly as possible - I thought the Olympics were over," he said.

"However, the disappointment has been put to one side and we really want this bronze more than ever now."

Finnish skip Markku Uusipaavalniemi, who delivered an inch-perfect final stone to secure his shot at gold, believes David Murdoch's world silver medallists will start as favourites against Paul Fenson's Americans. And he also backed Murdoch, one of the youngest skips in the tournament, for future success.

"Great Britain are one of the best sides in the world and David is a great skip," he said. "He is still young and there will be plenty more chances for him at the Olympics. I don't think they'll have any problem getting motivated, despite losing to us."

Meanwhile, Olympic legend Franz Klammer is not predicting an Alain Baxter medal this year.

The former ski great backed Baxter for a podium place in Salt Lake City but believes he is still mentally scarred by the decision to strip him of that bronze, following a positive drugs test.

"Since Salt Lake he just hasn't been in form, he has been really struggling," said Klammer. "You need to have consistency in slalom, I can't see him suddenly finding him form on Saturday, he's not been up there all season."

Baxter insists he is not angry or bitter by the decision to strip him of his medal, a move even IOC president Jacques Rogge has questioned.

And Klammer agrees the Edinburgh-born racer was harshly treated. "He did nothing wrong and he never deserved to lose that bronze after working so hard to get it," he added.