Great Britain's curlers must put their Olympic medal heartache behind them after their fate was sealed in a bronze play-off defeat to the United States.

Their 8-6 loss ensured David Murdoch's men would return home empty-handed - and have to raise themselves immediately for the start of the National Championships in Perth on Tuesday.

Victory there will give Murdoch's team the consolation of a place in the World Championships later this year and another chance to pursue success on the big stage.

Vice-captain Ewan MacDonald said: "We have got to try not to think about things too much but I think British curling has proved it has the ability to perform at the highest level.

"Everything is still looking strong from our point of view. We played a good second half of the game and we fought hard. We did as much as we could to come back but it was not quite enough."

Britain were always chasing the game after American skip Pete Fenson scored a crucial double take-out to score three in the third end and put his team 4-1 ahead.

Murdoch's men battled back following a brief interruption by a male streaker who leapt out of the crowd with only a rubber chicken to preserve his modesty.

And Murdoch matched Fenson with a last stone double take-out of his own in the seventh for a triple to claw the deficit back to 6-5 and give his side a sniff of a chance.

But it was not enough as Fenson kept control of the final end leaving Murdoch to pick up more pieces following Wednesday's heart-wrenching final stone semi-final loss to Finland.

Murdoch said: "We wanted to win the bronze medal match as much as that semi-final and we did everything possible to win but it didn't go our way."

Alain Baxter returns to Olympic action today for the first time since being stripped of his Salt Lake City bronze medal four years ago.

Baxter goes in the men's slalom in Sestriere convinced the event represents his last chance to make up for that disappointment on the biggest stage.

Baxter said: "Vancouver is maybe a bit far off but for the moment I am still enjoying skiing. I think it would be a shame if I hung up the skis at a point when I still believe I can be one of the best."

Meanwhile Solihull speed-skater Jonathan Eley believes he stands a chance of a medal in the men's 500metre short-track finale at the Palavela.

Eley clocked the second fastest time in the heats for tonight's quarter-final and having warmed up in the longer distances he hopes to make his favourite event count.

Eley said: "I am skating better than I thought and I am feeling confident. My first aim was the semi-finals but now I think I am better than that.

"I feel I have got a lot to prove after the 1000m and 1500m and skating my best event last is certainly an advantage. I have been getting more and more into it and I am feeling pretty fresh now."