Sochi 2014: Musgrave debut a damp squib due to sun

Rosamund "Posy" Musgrave and Andrew Musgrave. Picture: PA

The 27-year-old joined the whole British cross-country skiing team in competing in the sprint prologue on Monday afternoon, where she placed 42nd out of a field of 67.

That wasn’t quite enough to make the quarter-finals like her younger brother Andrew, who would later compare his performance to that of a tranquilized badger, with the top 30 needed.

And so she turned her attentions to the 10km classical yesterday, however the ever-increasingly sunny conditions in the mountains severely affected the course.

Musgrave caught the worst of them and admitted that, if she learned anything from coming in 66th, it was she enjoys the sprint more.

“Cross country is one of the ultimate endurance sports you have got to have great all-round strengths,” said Musgrave, who finished in a time of 36:18.5minutes.

“The events they have at the Olympics range from a sprint which is about three minutes long to right up to 50km for men which is about two hours.

“So there is a really big difference in what you can compete in. I’ve focused on the sprint and the time trial so the slightly shorter end of the spectrum. I am enjoying my Olympic experience but what this outing has taught me is that I personally prefer the sprint.”

Musgrave is the only female on the British cross-country team, with Andrew Young and Callum Smith joining her younger brother Andrew on the men’s side.

And that, for Musgrave, is her maiden Winter Olympic campaign over. She admitted to being disappointed she couldn’t end her debut Games on a better note.

“My preparation was really good but I just felt very flat out there and I didn’t have enough energy,” she added.