Jackie Lockhart
2002 world curling gold medallist on BBC TV

"Both of these teams have had eight minutes of practice and that's where you have to get rid of your nerves, but this is the Olympic Games and everyone will be nervous."

Live coverage is available at the top of this page.

"It was an incredible journey, it was one of those things that will go down in history and if I can pass anything on to these girls from my experiences it can only be a good thing," said Howie, remembering her gold medal success in 2002.

"We enjoyed the moment and it was a surprise to get the amount of media coverage we did but it was good for the sport."

Were you one of the millions who stayed up late into the night to watch Britain win curling gold in 2002? What are your memories of that evening? You can tweet us using the hashtag #lovecurling, external

Image source, Getty Images

Rhona Martin was the captain who launched the "Stone of Destiny" in Salt Lake City back in 2002 and is the reason why we all know our kiggle-caggle, external from our pancakes. (You do still remember what a kiggle-caggle is, right?) The 2002 Olympic gold medallist, now known as Rhona Howie, is in Sochi but as a mentor and coach to Britain's latest generation of curling hopefuls.

Steve Cram
BBC Sport curling commentator

"It's a tough start for the British women against Sweden. You can afford to lose one match in this competition and still make it through to the play-offs, but you really want to start well. It's a big opportunity for Eve Muirhead and her young team."

You can watch live coverage of Britain's round robin match with Sweden at the top of this page.

Muirhead's team of Scottish curlers had to settle for silver at the European Championships in November, with Sweden taking the crown. And just listen to what Muirhead has had to say:

"We've got a tough, tough start. We know we're going to have to put in one of our best performances early on, but we're ready for that," said the captain.

"We've had a fantastic last few seasons with world, European and Grand Slam titles under our belts, so we know how to win these major championships."

A troop of bagpipers led Britain's female curlers onto the ice for the start of their round robin match with Sweden. Britain's women's curlers, captained by Eve Muirhead, are the reigning world champions, having beaten Margaretha Sigfridsson's Sweden in the final in Latvia last March.

So, that's another curling Olympic gold for Britain, then? Steady on, it's not just a one horse race and in the next entry maybe I'll tell you why.

Image source, @JennaMcCorkell

British figure skater Jenna McCorkell on Twitter:, external Watching the speed skating! Wow, this is pretty exciting! Go team GB!

If you want to invest in a pair of blades then you will need a cool £2000. Jack Whelbourne has said he is struggling financially after buying two pairs of boots which cost a cool £2000 each.

Amy Williams MBE, who won a skeleton gold medal in Vancouver:, external Jack Whelbourne wins heat one confidently in the 1500m short track. Well done Jack.

So, Jack Whelbourne is through to the semi-finals and joining him from the first heat is Italy's Yuri Confortola, who was second, and Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands who came in third. Latvia's Roberto Pukitis also joins them. Japan's Yuzo Takamido was disqualified.

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Williams
BBC Sport in Sochi

"Seriously, Russia, get to events on time! Short track arena half-empty, but literally thousands on concourse outside as it starts."

Wilf O’Reilly
Former Olympic short track speed skater on BBC TV

"Jack has been skating well and he would have been expecting to reach the semi-final round. That was an tactically fantastic race - he made the right moves at the right time and didn't get caught in the traffic behind."

Jack Whelbourne sneaks through on the inside and leads at the bell and comfortably reaches the semi-final, crossing the line first in 2:14.091. He punches the air in celebration, a fine tactical race from him.

Jack Whelbourne nicely placed in third with six laps remaining. Top three will qualify. No drama to talk of yet.

Jack Whelbourne has finished warming up on the ice for the start of the 1500m short track heats and a group of Japanese fans have just taken to their seats wearing wacky hats. There seems to be a bit of a carnival inside the rink.

Image source, Johannes Rydzek

Those competing in Sochi seem to know how to relax and make the most of the Olympic experience. Johannes Rydzek, the German nordic combined skier, has posted a picture on his Facebook page,, external and it seems some of the team dressed up as Elton John in his 1970s pomp.

Whelbourne made it to the semi-finals in Vancouver four years ago so the Nottingham-born skater will be hoping to improve on that in Sochi. Just as a little aside, Whelbourne likes cars and motorbikes and is in the process of restoring a yellow 1972 VW Beetle. And, being as we were talking about love earlier, he has recently moved in with girlfriend, and fellow skater, Elise Christie.

In a little under 10 minutes Jack Whelbourne will compete in the first heat of the men's short track 1500m. The 22-year-old is Britain's only representative in this distance and his best result at the World Cup this season was reaching the semi-finals in Turin.

American Sage Kotsenburg, the Olympic men's snowboard slopestyle gold medallist, says Jenny Jones's third place in the women's competition is an "amazing" feat.

Jones learned to ride at her local dry ski slope in Bristol and Kotsenburg believes not having the advantage of practicing on snow when starting out adds to her level of achievement.

"I grew up in Park City, Utah. We have amazing mountains there. I was definitely blessed to grow up there," he said.

"Jenny Jones, and also [Team GB's] Jamie Nicholls, started out on dry slopes. So this is like riding a snowboard down on carpet and then they're hitting rails and jumps and there's not even any snow around. For them to learn that, and then taking it to snow is a whole different thing."

Ollie Williams
BBC Sport at the Iceberg Skating Palace

"The first day of short track speed skating starts imminently in the Iceberg. This is going to be spectacular, short track is all-action, bumps, bruises, frenetic racing. Jack Whelbourne in the men's 1500m heats for GB shortly, then Elise Christie and Charlotte Gilmartin in the 500m from 1027 GMT.

"GB chief Stuart Horsepool says training has gone well and the GB team are looking as good as can be hoped for. Keep an eye on Viktor Ahn, the South Korean-turned-Russian star for the hosts, who will be up against Canada's Charles Hamelin among others in the 1500m."