Winter Olympics: GB's bobsleigh women hope for funding after finishing eighth

Great Britain's Mica McNeill and Mica Moore hope that their eighth-place finish in the women's bobsleigh final has convinced the sport's national body to fund them for the next Olympics.

The pair, who were as high as sixth fastest, produced the best ever result by a British women's team.

After funding was withdrawn in 2017, a crowdfunding initiative raised £40,000 to help them compete at the Games.

"I hope we don't have to ask the people for funding now," said pilot McNeill.

The British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association had withdrawn funding for the women's team and chose instead to continue supporting three men's teams because it deemed them more likely to win honours.

McNeill added: "Five months ago we didn't even know whether we would be here. Just to get here is an achievement in itself. It has been incredible. We will be back in four years' time."

Brakewoman Mica Moore added: "This has been the cherry on top. We have enjoyed it so much. We were told we weren't medal potential so it was nice to show yesterday [when they were in sixth place] who we are."

Germany duo Mariama Jamanka and Lisa Buckwitz recorded a total time of three minutes 22.45 seconds to win the title by 0.07 seconds from USA's Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs. Canada's Kaillie Humphries and Phylicia George claimed bronze.

BBC analyst Nicola Minichiello, who with Jackie Davies finished ninth in the event at Turin 2006 which was the previous best finish, said the British women could improve on their result if they get the right backing.

"These are the next generation," she said. "To put it in perspective. Mica [McNeill] has a good sled but it's not compared to the BMWs, the sleds of the Germans. The start is solid, but again another four years of training and she's going to be right up there.

"You keep them focused and keep them training. You're always looking at technology. Get them more athletic and get them working in the gym.

"You give them the training, you give them the knowledge and you improve the equipment - anything is possible."

There was good news elsewhere for Team GB as 28-year-old Billy Morgan qualified for the inaugural men's big air final in sixth place.

Morgan scored 87.50 with his first run and bettered that with his second, scoring 90.50 to hang on to his placing and go through from heat two.

Team-mates Jamie Nicholls and Rowan Coultas failed to qualify as both came outside the top six in heat one.

New Zealand's Carlos Knight Garcia top-scored with 97.50 while world champion Stale Sandbech missed out on the final.

Morgan, who came 10th in slopestyle in 2014 but failed to qualify for the Pyeongchang final, went through in big air despite suffering from an ear infection.

"When I was on the jump yesterday I thought the scaffolding was shaking but it was the balance in my ears," he told BBC Sport.

"I woke up at 4am this morning and the ear was completely blocked but I've had it syringed and it's been OK. It went pretty perfect today."

Great Britain beat reigning champions Canada in their final round-round game to qualify for the women's curling semi-finals.

Eve Muirhead's team, who won a bronze in 2014, picked up four points from the last three ends to clinch a 6-5 victory.

The men will have to play Switzerland in a tie-breaker on Thursday (00:05 GMT) to secure their place in the last four, after their hopes of automatic qualification were dashed by a 10-4 defeat by the USA.

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