Anastasia Bryzgalova, 25/Winter Olympics Russian curler Bryzgalova takes...

Winter Olympics Russian curler Bryzgalova takes a tumble



Russian curler Anastasia Bryzgalova, 25, who set pulses racing with her model looks and icy stare, ended up setting hearts racing when she took a tumble on the ice on Monday.



The most dramatic moment of the match came in the third round as Bryzgalova was strategizing with her teammate and husband Aleksandr Krushelnitckii.



She suddenly seemed to lose her footing and her feet went flying out from under her. She promptly landed on her backside.



The fall drew gasps from a stunned crowd. It is very rare for a curler to fall in professional curling. Fortunately, she recovered seconds later. 



Her team of Russian athletes ended up winning the bronze medal in mixed doubles curling after beating Norway 8-4.



The Russians' win on Tuesday gives them the distinction of nabbing the first-ever Olympic medal in mixed doubles curling. The event is making its Olympic debut in Pyeongchang.



Canada will face off against Switzerland later Tuesday in the mixed doubles gold medal match.



Over the weekend, Bryzgalova set pulses racing among viewers who are glued to proceedings in Pyeongchang who have been impressed not only by her prowess on the ice but her piercing stare, which makes her look like 'she can burn holes in the sheet with her eyes'.



Admirers on Twitter have compared her to some of the world's most beautiful women including Adriana Lima, Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie.



The athlete married her curling partner Alexander Krushelnitskiy in June 2017 and the couple enjoyed a sun soaked honeymoon in Spain.



The pair won the 2016 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Karlstad, Sweden.



Anastasia took up the sport in 2009 after being attracted by an advertisement for a curling club at an ice sports complex and has a master's degree from the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health.



Away from the ice rink, the athlete hones her figure with weightlifting in the gym and volleyball, delighting Instagram fans with her bikini-clad snaps on Instagram.



Russia is not officially competing in the Games in the wake of the nation's state-sponsored doping scandal.



However, 168 evidently clean athletes are taking part under the banner of 'Olympic Athlete from Russia', wearing neutral colours.



Mixed doubles curling is one of four new events in the 2018 Winter Olympics and was the first to kick off official competition last Thursday.