The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Brothers to give lambing season a miss in bid for Olympic gold
Muirheads chase glory in PyeongChang
Four years ago they were selling sheep and sneaking a peek at a mobile phone during a university lecture as Perthshire curler Eve Muirhead led Great Britain to Olympic curling bronze. Now it is a family affair in PyeongChang.
As his elder sister fought for a place on the Sochi 2014 podium, a day after her most devastating defeat, Thomas Muirhead came to a realisation.
“I was at the back of a lecture room in Edinburgh watching it on my phone not listening to a thing that was going on in the classroom,” he said.
“That was the moment I realised what the whole Olympic thing was about. Seeing the medals, that was the moment it sunk in for me, ‘that’s what I’m gunning for in the next four years’.”
Glen, the elder sibling, was peering at the television at the sheep market cafe as Eve skipped Britain to bronze.
The 28-year-old said: “I had to continue with everyday life at home at the time. Fortunately there was a big screen TV.”
He, too, is in PyeongChang as alternate in the team led by skip Kyle Smith and also featuring younger brother Thomas, Kyle Waddell and Cammy Smith.
Eve is a full-time athlete, but Glen and Thomas will be missing lambing season on their 600-acre Perthshire farm to be in PyeongChang.
Their father Gordon, a former curler, is in charge and may have to watch the action from South Korea on his phone in the lambing shed.
Thomas, 22, added: “Hopefully I’ll come home to a few fields of bouncing lambs.”
The men’s rink is inexperienced and was controversially selected over the David Murdoch-led team which took Olympic silver four years ago.
Courier columnist Eve is at her third Games. She made her debut in Vancouver in 2010 and, with Vicki Adams, Lauren Gray and Anna Sloan, claimed bronze in Sochi. Kelly Schafer is the alternate, or reserve.
Eve reflects with pride at how Britain responded from the semi-final loss to Canada which demoted them to the bronze medal contest with Switzerland, the chance for gold gone.
“It was the worst loss of my career,” she said.
“Within 20 hours we were back on the ice. I don’t think I slept much that night. I think it showed our courage and professionalism to get back into the next match.”
One of the people spoken to in the hours after the semi-final loss was Rhona Martin, the skip as Britain won Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002 in front of a TV audience of 5.7 million.
Eve will be looking to emulate Martin 16 years on, boosted by their victory, competing as Scotland, in November’s European Championships.
She said: “I’m really pleased we got that win, it’s always good to have that under your belt.
“What Rhona did in 2002 was absolutely fantastic for the sport. They put it on the map and grew it.
“It’s no burden at all. What she did has helped us be in the position we are in now.”
Britain does not have a team in the mixed doubles event, which makes its debut in South Korea.
But the Muirheads could combine in four years’ time in Beijing.
Eve, 27, added: “That would be a dream to go to an Olympic Games with one of my brothers.”