Winter Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead has come out of retirement at age 36 to team up with Bobby Lammie in mixed doubles curling, aiming to reach the Alpes 2030 Games. After four years away from competing, Muirhead says being Team GB's chef de mission at the Milan-Cortina Games inspired her return. Her teammate Vicky Drummond is also returning to the sport and will partner Euan Kyle. Both women say they're motivated by a renewed passion for curling after experiencing the thrill of elite sports environments again.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Eve Muirhead, a 36-year-old Scottish Olympic curler who won gold in Beijing four years ago, has ended her retirement from the sport. She had stepped away from competing after 15 years of trying to win an Olympic title, citing mental health challenges. However, being the Team GB chef de mission at the recent Milan-Cortina Games in February reignited Muirhead's passion for curling. Now, she's returning to compete in mixed doubles with Bobby Lammie, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, with the goal of reaching the Alpes 2030 Games. Muirhead had been away from competitive curling for four years and says that being involved in elite sport has given her a new perspective on the pressures she'd placed on herself.
Written for “Olympic Curling Champion Returns” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's tone is generally neutral, but Muirhead's decision to return to curling is framed as a positive development, emphasizing her refreshed state and competitive spirit. Phrases such as 'rekindled her passion for competing' and 'the competitive side of me never disappeared' suggest a sympathetic lean towards Muirhead's perspective.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.55 for article 557 · logged 2026-08-06
- Published
Winter Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead has reversed her retirement, saying being Team GB's chef de mission at this year's Games has inspired her to return to curling after four years away.
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being → publish → years
The 36-year-old will team up with two-time Olympic silver medallist Bobby Lammie in mixed doubles this season - the pair having won the world title in 2022 - with a view to ultimately reaching the Alpes 2030 Games.
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pair → team → Games
Four-time Olympian Muirhead stepped away from competing after winning gold in Beijing four years ago, and subsequently spoke about the mental health challenges she experienced towards the end of a 15-year struggle to win gold.
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she → step → gold
The Scot was Team GB's chef de mission at the Milan-Cortina Games in February and says that "brought back emotions that I had not felt for a long time".
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I → say → time
Muirhead explained that being away from curling gave her the chance to try new things, take on new physical challenges, and enjoy the sport "without the pressure I had placed on myself for so many years".
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I → explain → years
"But the competitive side of me never disappeared," she added.
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she → disappear → me
"The more time I spent around elite sport and curling, the more I began to wonder whether I still had something to give on the ice.
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I → spend → ice
I know how demanding the road to an Olympics is, but I am returning from a very different place.
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I → know → place
I feel refreshed, physically strong and excited by the challenge.
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I → feel → challenge
I would not be coming back unless I believed I could perform at that level again."
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I → come → level
Muirhead's gold medal-winning team-mate Vicky Drummond is also returning to the sport to rival her - and a third member of that rink, Jen Dodds - in the GB Curling mixed doubles programme.
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mate → win → programme
Drummond, 32, says being part of the BBC Sport team in Cortina in February rekindled her passion for competing, and that she wants to show her young daughter Sophie that "becoming a mum doesn't mean your ambitions have to end".
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ambitions → say → daughter
"More than anything, I want my return to mean something beyond the ice," said the intensive care nurse, who will partner Euan Kyle.
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who → want → Kyle
"I want Sophie to grow up knowing that it's never too late to chase something that excites you.
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that → want → you
If she grows up believing that anything is possible because she watched me try, then this journey will already have been worth it.
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journey → grow → ?
"I have no idea where this road will lead, but I'm excited to find out.
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I → have → idea
"
Analysis: Friends become rivals in fascinating twist
Spending time with Muirhead and Drummond in Cortina earlier this year, it was clear how much both revelled being back in the elite sport environment and how much curling meant to them.
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curling → become → them
In Muirhead's case, there was always going to be a void after the all-consuming job of chef de mission ended abruptedly when the Games did.
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Games → be → mission
And her near-zealous completion of Hyrox events around the world - and at a predictably elite level - spoke to the competitive fire still inside her.
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completion → speak → her
At 36, she is still young and will return revived - and with the cachet of having not just won Olympic gold - but dealt with the stresses and strains of that journey.
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she → return → journey
And she will do so with arguably the best sweeper in the sport alongside her.
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she → do → her
Drummond is even younger and returns with a different motivation.
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Drummond → return → motivation
That is not to say she'll not be just as competitive as her close friend.
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she → say → friend
The battle between them, and Dodds, to be part of GB's pre-eminent pairing as we move towards the next Winter Olympics will be fascinating.
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we → move → Olympics
