Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat were one of Great Britain's brightest hopes for a medal at these games after winning the mixed doubles world title last year.

It wasn't to be on the biggest stage though.

After getting edged out 6-5 by Norway in the semi-finals, they came up against a stellar performance from Sweden's Almida De Val and Oskar Eriksson in the bronze-medal match, shaking hands at 9-3 down.

Image source, Getty

You have to be careful when firing up the hot wash right? No-one wants to shrink their partner's delicates.

Norway's Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien know better than most. The Norwegian mixed doubles pair are married and right after each match they debrief in a chat they call the 'hot wash', because things are free to get heated.

"I think we have found a way that works pretty good for us," said Skaslien. "It’s not to be mean to each other.

"We are extreme competitive people, and it’s only a spontaneous reaction at the moment.”

They won bronze in 2018, but only after a Russian team had been disqualified for doping. They flew out to South Korea to belatedly get their gongs on an otherwise empty podium, which beats it being delivered by the postman.

They will take on Italy's pair of Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner in the battle for gold.

Three Swedes are into the final of the women's cross-country sprint, led by world champion Jonna Sundling.

Emma Ribom and Maja Dahlqvist are also through, with American Jessie Diggins on the hunt for a medal too.

Sonia Oxley
BBC Sport in Beijing

Kjeld Nuis takes the gold, with fellow Dutchman Thomas Krol getting silver and South Korea's Kim Minseok the bronze.

That's the fifth and sixth medals for the Netherlands in speed skating at these Olympics.

They have three golds, two silver and one bronze. Dominant!

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

Also an amazing performance from Cornelius Kersen finishing inside the top 20 - it's been 30 years since we've had a British long-track skater so what an amazing feat for him.

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

An amazing achievement for the Dutch men in one and two - strangely Kjel Nuis will not be able to take part in the 1000m later on this week because he didn't qualify at the Dutch Championships!

The Dutch team will be extremely happy, though. I think there was a split between support for Thomas Krol and Nuis - I called Nuis because he just performs so well under pressure.

An Olympic record wasn't enough for fellow Dutchman Thomas Krol, who must settle for silver.

South Korean Minseok Kim takes bronze.

A 19th-placed finish for GB's Cornelius Kersten on his Olympic debut.

Fifth for Canada's Connor Howe.

12th for Norway's Allan Dahl Johansson.

Which means...

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Zhangjiakou

Erik Valnes' big ambition is a bit, um, different.

He wants 5,000 followers on Strava. I've just looked and his tally currently stands at 2,769.

You know what to do.

Norway's Allan Dahl Johansson and Canada's Connor Howe are the final pair to go.

We are heading into the semi-finals of the cross-country sprints, with Norway's Erik Valnes the fastest men's qualifier.

There will be no British representation after Andrew Young (36th) and James Clugnet (40th) finished outside the top 30 in qualifying.

Swedish world champion Jonna Sundling was quickest in the women's quarter-finals, while reigning Olympic champion Jessie Diggins, of the United States, also progressed.

Sonia Oxley
BBC Sport in Beijing

Kjeld Nuis is assured of a medal with two skaters to go - what colour will it be?

China's Zhongyan Ning is really going for this...

But it's not going to be enough for a medal.

Sixth for Ning, while Japan's Takuro Oda goes into 15th.

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Zhangjiakou

I caught up with Team GB's James Clugnet after his exit from the men's sprint in the qualification round.

“It’s disappointing, it’s not the greatest day. I was hoping for more," he said.

“I know I’m good enough to qualify, just not today.

“We really train hard for this event, but there is a lot at stake and a lot of people watching. I’m not really sure what happened because I’ve always performed good with pressure.

“I was still really close to the cut, I tried my best.”

Image source, Getty Images

Joey Mantila's one minute 45.26 sees the American slot into fifth position with two pairs remaining.

Kjeld Nuis is closing in another Olympic gold.

Team GB's Cornelius Kersten is 15th at present.

A first pairing in a few minutes that hasn't brought us an Olympic record.

Belgian Bart Swings and Norwegian Kristian Ulekliev move into eighth and 11th respectively.

American Joey Mantila is the World Cup leader over 1500m. Can he grab himself a medal in this next race...

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

The Olympic record that was initially broken there by Thomas Krol was from American Derek Parra set in 2002 at Salt Lake City at altitude, so that gives you an idea of how quick that 1500m was.

Sonia Oxley
BBC Sport in Beijing

Poor Thomas Krol - he held his Olympic record for all of two minutes.

His team-mate Kjeld Nuis has just set a new one of one minute 43.21.

Kjeld Nuis is closing in on that Olympic record time but South Korean Minseok Kim is on his tail...

ANOTHER OLYMPIC RECORD!

Unbelievable. Nuis clocks on minute 43.21 seconds to beat Thomas Krol's time by 0.34 seconds.

Kim moves into third with his effort.