Perthshire keeps it in the family for Games

Three Muirheads and two Smiths selected for PyeongChang 2018

It will be a tale of two Perthshire curling families at next year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.

There will be no fewer than three Muirheads and two Smiths at PyeongChang 2018, after Team GB made their first selection announcement for the February Games at the Royal Highland Show.

Courier columnist Eve Muirhead will skip her rink, and will be hoping to improve on her bronze of four years ago in Sochi. If she claims another medal she will join an exclusive club, as there are only two previous double medal-winning Brits at Winter Olympics.

Eve said: “For us, we’ve set the benchmark in Sochi and we’ll be looking to go even better this time.

“Britain doesn’t have many Winter Olympic medals – 26 in nearly 100 years – and I think that only three ice skaters have won two. To do that would be incredible for us.”

Brothers Thomas and Glen are in the men’s team (Glen as alternate), which will be led by Kyle Smith. Kyle’s brother Cameron is also in that rink.

Eve added: “It has been four years of hard work to stay ahead of other domestic rivals and to stay world class.

“Although we knew we had the results to meet the selection criteria, it is still an anxious wait until you get the call and it feels a huge privilege to represent Team GB at another Games.”

The Team Muirhead selection was as near to a certainty as you get in sport but Team Smith being chosen ahead of more experienced rinks, Team Murdoch and Team Brewster, was a surprise to some.

Olympic debutant Kyle said: “Receiving that phone call about our selection is probably one of the best experiences I have ever had and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“It has been our career goal and has driven us in everything we have done in order to achieve this and we will work even harder now to achieve our next goal of making sure we get our preparations right for our first Olympics.”

Mike Hay, Team GB Chef de Mission for PyeongChang 2018, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome our first athletes for PyeongChang 2018 in what is a significant milestone for Team GB on our journey to the Games.

It has been four years of hard work to stay ahead of other domestic rivals and to stay world-class. TEAM LEADER KYLE SMITH

Picture: PA. Eve Muirhead with her brothers Thomas, left, and Glenn, who have been named in the Team GB 2018 Winter Olympics Curling Team in an announcement made at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.