Bad news for U.S. curling teams

The U.S. men's Olympic curling run is all but over.

Scottish skip David Murdoch's British team handed the foursome a 4-2 loss yesterday. That dropped the Americans to 2-5, practically assuring their elimination from semifinal contention.

Meanwhile, fighting back tears, the skip of the U.S. women's curling team knew it was time to make a change. Debbie McCormick pulled herself out of the fourth position yesterday and was set to throw third stone for a night match against defending champion Sweden.

Coach Wally Henry, McCormick's father, confirmed the move after a team meeting following a 9-2 loss to Canada in a morning game.

Virtue, Moir lead

In ice dancing, Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the original dance with a sultry, fiery flamenco number. Virtue and Moir scored 68.41 points to edge Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White. With 111.15 points, Virtue and Moir lead Davis and White - their training partners - by 2.60 points going into tonight's free dance.

Wust wins gold again

Coasting in the practice lane, Ireen Wust realized she had another gold locked up. The Dutch speedskater pumped her arms toward the roof while a stunned home crowd watched favorite Christine Nesbitt labor across the finish line. With an astonishing final lap, Wust answered all those who questioned her success four years ago by winning gold in the 1,500 meters.

Nesbitt, winner of the 1,000, burned herself out and had nothing left for the final lap, fading to a disappointing sixth-place finish.

Russian drought over

Evgeny Ustyugov won Russia's first gold medal in a men's Olympic biathlon race in 16 years when he captured the 15-kilometer mass start race. Ustyugov finished in 35 minutes, 35.7 seconds, beating France's Martin Fourcade by 10.5 seconds. - AP