Dad’s pride at Eve’s Olympic flag honour
Not in his wildest dreams did he expect to watch his daughter compete in four Winter Olympics – never mind be Team GB’s flagbearer.
But yesterday Gordon Muirhead, father of Perthshire curler Eve, spoke of his great pride at her continuing success story.
Eve, a former Morrison’s Academy pupil and Crieff Highland Gathering chieftain, fulfilled a sporting dream on Friday by carrying the Great Britain flag and fronting up the team march at the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 alongside ski star Dave Ryding.
It was a moment to remember for the 31 year-old, who has family links to the Strath. Eve is originally from Blair Atholl, and it was a special watch for dad Gordon and the family back at home.
Gordon, a world champion curler himself, said: “It was talked about two or three weeks ago that it was a possibility but we were sworn to secrecy.
“It wasn’t a definite until after the teams got to Beijing. Medals apart, it is the icing on the cake.
“And it was good that it was with Dave Ryding because, for both of them, it is their fourth Olympics and possibly the last. I’m very proud.
“It’s just a crying shame the stadium wasn’t full and they were having to wear the face masks, but that is just the way it is.”
Gordon made sure to record the opening ceremony and that will no doubt be repeated many times in the weeks, months and years ahead.
He added: “We sat down with a bottle of bubbly at night and re-ran the opening ceremony.”
Eve is impressively competing at her fourth Olympic Games having first pulled on the Great Britain colours at Vancouver way back in 2010.
It was then onto Sochi 2014 – where she won bronze – before narrowly missing out on the medals at Pyeongchang four years ago.
Gordon continued: “Never in our wildest dreams did we think she would get to four of them. Eve is determined.
“There has been a lot of team changes over the last two or three years.
“It has been chop and change but, the ones they have just now, it seems to have gelled.
“Through the Europeans and the Olympic qualification event, they have been good.
Never in our wildest dreams did we think she would get to four of them. Eve is determined.
“And it’s great for the other four with Eve because it’s their first time at the Winter Olympics. It will be a great experience for them.
“Hopefully we can get on the podium but we’ll wait and see.”
Eve reflected on the “great honour” of leading out Team GB at the famous Bird’s Nest stadium.
She said: “It’s something I never dreamt I’d do, and I never dreamt I’d be back at a fourth Olympics.
“It felt fantastic, it was such a great honour to carry the flag and lead Team GB out.
“I was very nervous, I must admit. As soon as I woke up in the morning, I got butterflies in my stomach and I couldn’t wait for the time to come.
“But then as you get closer and closer to walking out and you see the bright lights and all the other countries, the nerves were definitely there.
“It was a very proud moment to lead all the athletes out and to do it with Dave [Ryding] was also very, very special.”
Gordon Muirhead