Vicky Wright went from saving lives to saving Team GB’s bacon at the Winter Olympics yesterday.
The Scottish Covid nurse spent the darkest days of the pandemic working on a hospital ward in Larbert, near Falkirk.
But it was Britain’s curling team who needed her help as they came from 4-0 down to set up a final against Japan tomorrow.
It will be the first time Team GB have gone for women's gold since Rhona Martin led her skip to glory in Salt Lake City 20 years ago.
Whatever the result the team is guaranteed a second medal to go with the silver picked up by Bruce Mouat’s rink in today’s men’s final.
Wright said: “I was a full-time surgical nurse up until 2019 when I went part-time. When the pandemic hit we were in Canada at the world championships and I flew back to clock on full-time.
“We couldn’t train, we couldn’t do anything, and I trained as a nurse for a reason. I have worked the whole way through, doing nights over Christmas.”
Given fears the Brits were heading for their worst Games here since returning empty-handed from Albertville 30 years ago, curling has done them a major turn.
From a point of despair the team now has the chance to win more gold medals in a single Games than ever before, and Wright insists she is up for the fight.
“We are here to win,” she said. “We want gold. We are here to enjoy it but we will try our best and with the same intent. If it comes off, that is great.”
Yesterday’s win was achieved in dramatic style as the Brits blew an 11-8 lead in the final end and had to win the game a second time in the extra end.
Wright now has the chance to win a bet she struck with fiancé Greg Drummond, a silver medallist for GB in Sochi eight years ago.
“I want to go one better,” she said. “Before I came out I told him I’d come back with gold, get the bragging rights back off him after eight years. I think it is time I get them back.”
