Pizzaman deilvers bronze

ByEurosport

Published 24/02/2006 at 14:48 GMT

Pizza parlour owner and US men's curling skip Pete Fenson threw a perfect last stone in a nailbaiting finale during the 3rd/4th place playoff against Great Britain on Friday to deliver the bronze medal to his team.

CURLING 2006 Torino 2006 United States-Great Britain

Image credit: Reuters

The USA triumphed 8-6 in a match they were always in control of and despite a late scare, Fenson and his team will head back to Bemidji, Minnesota with an Olympic bronze medal.

"We came for a medal and we didn't care what colour it was. We're very happy with a bronze," said team member Joe Polo.

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Fenson added: "Our job's done here."

Heading into the final end, the US found themselves a point up, after having been catapulted into an early lead with a superb stone in the third end, but there was still all to play for.

But British skip David Murdoch made a slight misjudgement with his last stone and allowed Fenson to seal the victory without the need to go into an extra end.

CURLING 2006 Torino 2006 United States-Great Britain

Image credit: Reuters

It was Britain's fourth loss in a row after having started so well with six wins on the bounce.

"We really couldn't have done any more. We trained our hearts out and prepared as well as we could and came here and had some great performances and beat a lot of good teams but just never quite got the breaks," Murdoch said.

"We are disappointed because at the end of the third end the ice changed and we didn't quite get hold of it," said vice Ewan MacDonald, husband of 2002 gold medallist Fiona MacDonald.

The defeat caps a disappointing championship for Britain's curlers after Rhona Martin's women's team - who went to Turin as defending champions - crashed out during the main round and failed to even make it to the semi-finals.

SHORT AND CURLIES

The match was briefly interupted by a rare, but certainly not unwelcome, sight on a curling arena - a streaker.

CURLING 2006 Torino 2006 United States-Great Britain Streaker chicken

Image credit: Reuters

The aesthetics of this particular naturalist were questionable, as was his decision to get naked in such cold temperatures.

To keep his short and curlies hidden from view, the unidentified man - who was later heard talking in a thick Scottish accent as he was escorted away from the rink by armed police - wore a chicken on his crotch.

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