Perthshire curling legend Eve Muirhead determined to inspire even more after being honoured with OBE

It was the season of success she had dreamt of.

And now, after a gold medal-winning campaign of pure curling delight, Eve Muirhead has been awarded an OBE.

The Perthshire sporting stalwart, from Blair Atholl, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to curling.

Eve, a familiar face Perth’s Dewars Centre ice rink, earned legendary status earlier this year by leading Team GB to gold at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Her season also included triumphs at the European Championships and World Mixed Championships.

The OBE honour is the icing on the cake and she said: “It’s an absolute delight to be awarded an OBE. This is something that is really, really special.

“I could not have achieved what I have without British Curling’s support and without the support of my friends and family. Of course, I would not have been able to do this without my team-mates.

“All together we got that gold medal at the Olympic Games. It has been an unbelievable journey and season.

“Receiving awards like this does hit home how much I have achieved.”

Winning gold at the Winter Olympics had been a life-long ambition of Muirhead. The hours and hours of hard work led to that special – and emotional – podium moment.

“It was a massive achievement for the whole team,” Eve told the PA, reflecting on the success.

“It has been a complete rollercoaster of a journey.

“From a World Championships, not even qualifying for the Olympics, coming out a squad system of nine, to then win the Europeans, qualify for the Olympics and then come away with gold – it was a dream season, for sure.”

While the 32 year-old is already a role model to so many, she hopes to continue to inspire.

She said: “I hope I have inspired a lot of people and hope the