By James Crook

Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams and Claire Hamilton are the first athletes to be selected for the Great Britain squad at Sochi 2014August 28 - Scotland's World Championship winning women's curling team are the first four athletes to claim their places on the British team for next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi after being officially selected today.

Skipper Eve Muirhead will lead the side featuring Claire Hamilton, Anna Sloan and Vicki Adams once again as the quartet looks to add an Olympic gold medal to the world title they won in March this year in Riga.

Muirhead skipped her rink to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics at the age of just 19, securing a seventh placed finish, and the four-time junior world champion is hoping that her experience at the previous Games will see a stronger performance with a team that is more than capable of competing for precious metal in Sochi.

"I am thrilled to be part of Team GB in Sochi," she said.

"This will be my second Olympics and I'm excited - having won the worlds this year we want to continue our winning streak.

"It's not often we get to compete as Team GB and, as proud as we are to compete for Scotland, it's great to be part of a British team too."

This squad have been competing together since the 2011-2012 season, during which they took European gold and finished sixth at their debut World Championships as a unit, before stunning Sweden earlier this year with a last stone victory to take Scotland's first women's world title in 11 years, as well as the Players' Championship a month later against the same opponents.

Scotland's World Championship-winning curling team are the first athletes to be selected for the British team that will compete at Sochi 2014Scotland's World Championship-winning curling team are the first athletes to be selected for the British team that will compete at Sochi 2014

Team GB Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014 Mike Hay spoke of how the players had more than justified their selection to the squad with their recent performances and results.

"I am delighted to welcome the curlers as the first members of Team GB," he said.

"They are reigning World Champions and earned the right for Team GB to be represented at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games with their performances at the past two World Championships.

"The 2013 season was their best ever, adding the Players' Championships to their world crown so they know how to win and what it takes to be successful at major events.

"With Eve skipping the rink they also have Olympic experience to draw on from Vancouver 2010 so they are well equipped to challenge for medals in Sochi."

Britain last took Olympic gold in curling at Salt Lake City 2002 when another Scottish team, skipped by now-British Curling head coach Rhona Martin, won Britain's solitary gold medal of those Games, and the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame inductee congratulated Muirhead's team on their selection.

"Competing at an Olympics is the highlight of any athlete's career and I'd like to congratulate each of the girls on their selection - they're a very talented team and they all richly deserve their places on the flight to Sochi," Martin said.

"I am proud to be their head coach and look forward to helping them continue on their journey to the Games."

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