GB Wheelchair Curlers Win 2 Straight at Paralympics

Great Britain's wheelchair curling team just proved that resilience wins medals.

Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean started their Paralympic campaign with two crushing defeats. But instead of folding under pressure, they fought back with consecutive victories that put them right back in the race for a semi-final spot at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics.

Their latest win came Friday against the United States in a game that stayed tight from start to finish. Neither team led by more than a single point through seven ends, and they entered the final end tied 4-4.

That's when Kean delivered under pressure. With the hammer advantage (the right to throw the last stone), he placed a perfect shot to secure the 5-4 victory.

"That was a tight game, it didn't come easy," Kean told BBC Sport. "Now we're two [wins] and two [losses]. It certainly feels a lot better and inspires a bit of confidence."

The British pair now sits in a five-way tie for second place in the eight-team round-robin. The top four teams advance to the semi-finals after seven matches.

Their Thursday night victory over Latvia (6-5) started the winning streak. Next up is Japan on Saturday, the current world champions who will test whether Britain's momentum can hold.

The Ripple Effect

Butterfield sees the turnaround as proof of their growing chemistry. "In the past two games, we've been much more like ourselves," she said. "We've bounced off each other well, we've got good communication out there."

That partnership matters beyond just this tournament. Wheelchair curling showcases adaptive athletes competing at the highest level, inspiring people with disabilities worldwide to pursue their own athletic dreams.

Great Britain will also compete Saturday in the four-player wheelchair curling mixed team event, facing Slovakia and the United States. After a rocky start, the team is finding its rhythm at exactly the right moment.