Perthshire curling legend Eve Muirhead announces retirement from the sport

Perthshire sporting legend Eve Muirhead yesterday announced her retirement from elite-level curling.

The reigning Olympic champion, from Blair Atholl, signs off with a “huge smile” having carved out a phenomenal career packed with memories to last a lifetime.

Muirhead (32), always a familiar face at Perth’s Dewars Centre, has won every major title in the game across 15 years of international curling.

Earlier this year, she was deservedly awarded an OBE.

The much-loved inspiration to so many admitted now was the right time to hang up the curling shoes.

“I definitely didn’t make the decision quickly, it took a lot of time to speak to people who are close to me,” Muirhead said.

“And also to make sure that me myself was making the right choice.

“Of course retiring as European, World and Olympic champion is something pretty special and something I never ever dreamt of.”

Muirhead steps away from the competitive arena on the back of a momentous season.

She showed her leadership qualities as she rallied to come through a challenging innovative squad system to skip a new line-up to a third European title.

That was followed by gold medal joy at the Olympics in Beijing, before partnering Bobby Lammie to victory at the World Mixed Doubles Championship.

“I do think that after four tries at the Olympic Games to finally get that gold medal around my neck was really special,” she said.

Reflecting back, she added: “I would say the other career highlights for me are winning the World Championships, my European titles and I guess my Olympic bronze medal (at Sochi in 2014).

“But another highlight that has to stand out is the Pyeongchang Olympics, playing alongside my brothers. That was very special.”

Muirhead had words of encouragement for