Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds missed out on Team GB's first medal of the Winter Olympics after losing to hosts Italy in the curling mixed doubles bronze-medal match.
The Scottish pair has been heralded as one of Team GB's best hopes for a medal, but fell short after a 5-3 defeat in a second straight heartbreaking loss in as many days.
After some expert use of the hammer by the Italians in both the third and fourth ends, Team GB reached the halfway stage 3-1 down, and weren't able to capitalise on two Italian mistakes in the fifth and seventh ends to get more than one point, leaving them 4-3 down and Italy going into the final end with the hammer.
Stefania Constantini, who was magnificent throughout, retained her composure and drew for the win expertly in the final end to get the host nation the bronze medal, much to the delight of the home fans.
Mouat and Dodds got off to a flying start at the Winter Olympics, winning their first seven matches in a row and only suffering defeat once in the round-robin stage.
But the pair weren't able to capitalise on their early momentum in the semi-finals, suffering a shocking 9-3 loss to 2024 world champions Sweden, even after beating them 7-4 in the round robin just three days earlier.
The bronze medal match remained their last hope at a medal, but Dodds and Mouat miss out on an Olympic medal once again and finish fourth in successive Winter Olympics.
The defeat marks the third fourth place finish for Team GB after Kirsty Muir and Mia Brookes also missed out on a medal by one place in the Women's Slopestyle and Big Air finals respectively.
"So close and yet so far. The same as four years ago. I don't want to ugly cry - so I'll just stop there," said a crestfallen Dodds after the match.
"There's been a few fourth places for Team GB - that shows how close we are in so many events."
"We're so lucky to be able to play in the Olympic with your best mate. I'm so gutted but I'm so proud of us for sticking at it," Mouat added.
Team GB's wait for a medal extends after six days of the games -
