They did not get the gold they craved, but Team GB’s curlers have dragged their sport into the national spotlight once again.
Skip Bruce Mouat, alongside Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie and alternate Kyle Waddell, fell short against Canada in the Winter Olympic final in Cortina — repeating the silver-medal outcome of Beijing four years earlier.
Nine years building a dynasty
The quartet first united almost a decade ago with one shared ambition: Olympic gold. They insisted on entering the elite programme as a unit, a decision that reshaped British men’s curling.
Since then, they have claimed multiple World and European titles and a record haul of Grand Slam victories, establishing themselves as one of the most dominant rinks of the modern era. Their semi-final victory over Switzerland drew a peak BBC audience of 3.4 million, evidence of curling’s expanding appeal.
Much of their success stems from balance — Mouat’s calm authority, Hardie’s tactical precision, McMillan’s energy and Lammie’s quiet consistency. The collective ethos has been central to their rise.
Heartbreak and reflection in Cortina
Despite carrying the aura of world champions, they were undone by Canada in a tense final. Hardie admitted the pain of a second Olympic silver was raw, conceding he could not yet look at the medal around his neck.
The team had hoped to become the first British men’s rink since 1924 to win Olympic gold. Instead, they must reconcile near-misses with an extraordinary body of work.
What comes next?
Mouat and several team-mates signalled their desire to continue towards the 2030 Games in France, though Hardie’s future remains uncertain after another emotionally draining campaign.
They will not defend their world title in Utah in April, with Scotland’s national championships determining the next representatives. Emerging challengers could reshape the landscape before the next Olympic cycle.
For now, though, their impact is undeniable. Silver was not the medal they wanted — but in filling pubs, drawing millions of viewers and redefining their sport, Team Mouat have already left a lasting legacy.
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