The winning streak enjoyed by Norway’s national curling team last week came to an abrupt end on Saturday, when the guys known as the “curling clowns” because of their colourful trousers lost the final match of the European Championships. They were beaten by Switzerland by a score of 8-6.
Skip Thomas Ulsrud was the first to admit to a “total collapse,” telling newspaper Aftenposten that “it started with a stone that rolled the wrong way. My job became more difficult and we lost three points instead of winning one. Such are the margins in this sport.”
That left the Norwegians with silver medals instead of the coveted gold. Coach Pål Trulsen hasn’t lost hopes of winning gold at the upcoming Olympics in Sotchi, though.
“The audiences (in Stavanger, on Norway’s west coast) have been fantastic and the guys have played very well,” Trulsen told Aftenposten. “I would have gladly won gold, but at this level, you can’t just waltz into first place.”
newsinenglish.no staff
