UK Sport congratulates David Murdoch, Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, Michael Goodfellow and Tom Brewster on their silver medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Great Britain’s fourth of the competition.
Liz Nicholl, UK Sport Chief Executive, said: "Both the men’s and the women’s curling teams have shown exceptional skill and resolve to win Silver and Bronze medal in Sochi. UK Sport is proud to have supported them on their journey as part of our National Lottery funded World Class Performance Programme.
"This is the first time Great Britain have won two curling medals at an Olympic Games. Those medals have taken Great Britain past their medal target of ‘at least three’ and equalled their best ever Winter Olympic performance which goes back to the first ever Winter Games at Chamonix in 1924. The medals also mean that curling has achieved the top of its individual medal target of 1-2 medals.
“Going in to the final weekend of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, this medal will give the rest of the squad a huge boost as Great Britain look to finish on a high note.
"UK Sport has invested over £14 million of National Lottery and Government funding into athletes representing Great Britain at the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and to have surpassed the minimum medal target is an achievement to be proud of.”
Before Sochi 2014, Scott Andrews said: "The best part of being in a team is that you are with athletes that are all striving towards the same goal. We spend nearly every day together so it is great to share this experience with them. Both the sportscotland Institute of Sport and the National Lottery have been a major factor in my curling career so far and provided me with the means to train to my full potential."
Eight of the ten GB curlers will be making their first appearances at the Olympic Games. Only Murdoch, who has competed in Turin and Vancouver, and Muirhead, who made her debut four years ago, has competed at a previous Games. Murdoch and Muirhead have benefitted from UK Sport funding since 2006 and 2008 respectively, and will be the most experienced members of the squad.