Team GB's men's curling team secured a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, losing 6-9 to Canada in the final. The squad, led by skip Bruce Mouat, expressed interest in targeting gold at the 2030 Games in France but plans to decide after summer discussions. Their achievement has inspired young curlers in Scotland.
The Team GB men's curling rink, consisting of skip Bruce Mouat (31), Grant Hardie (33), Hammy McMillan (33), Bobby Lammie, and alternate Kyle Waddell, entered the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as world champions and favorites. They ultimately earned silver after a close 9-6 defeat to Canada in the final, marking their second consecutive Olympic runners-up finish following a loss to Sweden at the 2022 Beijing Games.
Reflecting on the result, Hardie told BBC Breakfast that the emotion on the podium stemmed from uncertainty at age 33 about future Olympics. "One was a dream, two was even better. Two medals from two is amazing," he said. He added that the team would "sit down in the summer and see what the next four years looks like," echoing discussions after Beijing where they sought improvements but still fell short of gold. McMillan, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, noted the youth trend in elite sports but remained open: "I'm not going to say no. I'd love to be there again in 2030 to try to get that one medal we don't have." At 33, he and Hardie would be 37 by then, an age considered old in many sports but potentially viable in curling.
The team has competed together for nearly a decade, crediting their success to strong interpersonal dynamics honed with sports psychologists. Mouat highlighted knowing each member's personality: "We know each personality so well now." McMillan described Mouat as caring, Hardie as analytical and data-driven, and himself as more impulsive. Hardie praised the blend: "I think it's great having four very different characters to help build one team. Nine years together working on it, it's something that clicked pretty early."
Upon returning to Scotland, the athletes received a warm welcome at Glasgow Central Station with a rendition of Flower of Scotland. Mouat told STV News the reception felt special and that their efforts had boosted curling: "Feel like we've won more than just a medal, we've done something good for curling." McMillan reported an influx of supportive messages, with many parents noting their children wanted to try the sport, and directed newcomers to trycurling.com amid Scotland's 18 rinks.
