David Murdoch backs Eve Muirhead to be ‘one of the greatest ever’ after GB gold

David Murdoch hailed Great Britain’s newly-crowned Olympic champions and predicted that Eve Muirhead could go on to become one of the sport’s greats.

Murdoch, the team’s Olympics curling coach, watched Muirhead craft an emphatic 10-3 win over Japan to secure the sport’s biggest title at her fourth attempt.

Still at the age of just 31, Murdoch believes Muirhead, who already has two  Olympic medals (she also won bronze in Sochi) and a world title behind her, has confirmed her status at the top of her sport.

Great Britain’s coach David Murdoch and Eve Muirhead celebrate women's curling gold- David Murdoch on Eve Muirhead

“She could be one of the greatest ever,” said Murdoch. “She’s been around so long, she’s won a World title and Europeans, and she’s one of the most dedicated athletes you’ll ever see.

“Never a day goes by when she doesn’t commit 100% to training, and if you do that you get your rewards.”

Murdoch paid tribute to the way Muirhead and her team battled adversity, from failing to secure initial qualification to teetering on the brink of elimination from the tournament after the round-robin phase.

“Sometimes it’s written in the stars,” Murdoch added. “It was a perfect performance. The composure and calmness was evident today and you could just see the girls so relaxed, and I think that was the key.”

Murdoch admitted the team had some “tough conversations” after their disappointing display at the world championships, where, competing as Scotland, they finished in eighth place after the group stage and were eliminated.

“They were tough and they needed to be tough,” said Murdoch. “It was probably the most important thing we’ve ever done, because what’s come of it is ultimately this.

“Credit has to go to them for