Battle-hardened Eve Muirhead insists she should remind herself to at all times benefit from the highs and lows of curling competitors forward of her fourth Winter Olympic Video games.
Skip Muirhead certified a spot for Staff GB at Beijing 2022 by topping the desk on the Olympic Qualifying Occasion alongside Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith, with their choice formally confirmed on Thursday.
The European champions endured a rollercoaster experience within the Netherlands – shedding their first two matches – however 5 consecutive wins and Turkey’s victory over Japan booked their flight to China alongside Bruce Mouat’s males, with Mouat and Dodds additionally competing within the blended doubles.
And Muirhead, 31, mentioned: “I feel one of many fundamental issues is that we’ve got to benefit from the subsequent couple of weeks earlier than we head to Beijing, and luxuriate in Beijing itself in fact.
“I feel I at all times have to remind myself that I have to take pleasure in it. The day that I flip as much as the ice and I don’t take pleasure in it will likely be the day that I take into consideration whether or not I need to stick with it or not.
“As a result of for those who don’t take pleasure in it – it’s no enjoyable. Proper now, I’m loving each single minute of it, each time I get on the ice with the ladies it’s such fun.
“It’s at all times thrilling the day that it’s formally introduced. It’s a really, very particular feeling for myself and for the remainder of the ladies and I suppose it will make Christmas somewhat nicer!”
Muirhead grew to become the youngest skip ever to win an Olympic medal when she led her aspect to bronze at Sochi 2014.
However she has needed to work arduous for a possibility this time round after lacking out on the primary probability to qualify by ending eighth on the World Championships.
Nonetheless, she regrouped in model along with her new workforce and the Scot is as decided as ever to succeed.
“I’m very hungry to medal once more and would like to work my method up the rostrum,” added Muirhead, certainly one of over 1,000 athletes who’re capable of prepare full-time, entry to the world’s greatest coaches and profit from pioneering know-how, science and medical help because of very important Nationwide Lottery funding.
“The workforce is in excellent form; we’re taking part in excellent curling and I’m trying ahead to beginning however all we are able to do is our greatest.
“Each sport is daunting – you may’t write anyone off – however we’re used to taking part in high nations on the planet, and I’d wish to suppose after they come to face us, they’re pondering the identical.
“We beat the present world champions (Switzerland) and Olympic champions (Sweden) on the Europeans, so I feel we’ve confirmed that we’re able to beating these guys and we need to do the identical once more.
“It does give us somewhat little bit of added stress, however it additionally places stress on different individuals who need to beat us – you’ve bought to take a look at it each methods.”
Muirhead is again for her fourth shot at Olympic gold
(PA Archive)
Muirhead is getting ready for the game’s quadrennial interval within the mainstream highlight, with ‘chess on ice’ hitting the screens of thousands and thousands again house.
However the remainder of her workforce are gearing up for his or her first Video games and their chief is very happy to go on a few of her expertise.
“I’m at all times right here for the ladies to speak to me in the event that they need to,” defined Muirhead, who’s bidding so as to add to the 1,000-plus medals achieved by British athletes because the introduction of Nationwide Lottery funding to elite sport in 1997.
“The Olympic Video games is an expertise you could at all times discuss – there’s at all times lots of tales that come out of it: good and unhealthy.
“I nonetheless get nervous and that’s solely pure. The primary stone you might be throwing you’re going to be however as quickly as you get going and get into the surroundings and really feel cozy, you may loosen up somewhat bit extra.
“I don’t realise once I’m on the market how well-liked it will get again in Britain – curling actually takes off and that’s actually cool.”
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Kaynak: briturkish.com
