Eve Muirhead’s life may look very different now that her competitive curling career is behind her, but that relentless drive is still as evident now as it was then.
The 32-year-old famously skippered her Team GB women’s side to curling gold at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in February this year - adding to her bronze medal from the Sochi 2014 Games - before she decided to retire in August after achieving “everything she dreamt of”. But while she may have stepped away from competing, she is by no means done with curling.
This weekend Muirhead will be making her commentary debut on Eurosport and discovery+ at the WCF European Curling Championships in Ostersund, Sweden, taking place from 18-26 November. The Perth Olympian will be joined by established voices David Smith and Richard Vaughan and she will also be penning an exclusive column on Eurosport.com. On top of all that she is also nominated for Action Woman of the Year 2022 at tonight's BT Sport's Action Women Awards.
But, as Muirhead enters the next chapter in her own personal journey, it’s only natural that personal reflection comes with that. Not only is she adjusting to life in retirement but there’s also an opportunity to look back on everything she’s achieved, from the ‘dark times’ she's faced to finally achieving her childhood dream of a gold medal that is yet to fully sink in.
“I am keeping very busy but that’s good, it’s good busy and I guess it’s my own choice to keep busy,” Muirhead told Mirror Sport on how her retirement is going.
“I could be at home sitting and twiddling my thumbs but that’s not what I want to do. I am really enjoying retirement - as much as it doesn’t feel like retirement in terms of sitting back - but that’s not what I wanted the retirement to be like. Of course I’ve stepped away from the actual on-ice curling and it’s actually really exciting watching it from a different perspective.
“The tournaments have all started this season and I’ve probably followed along scores more than I did when I actually did compete, which is weird. I still keep a very close eye on what’s happening in the curling circuit.”
“ Right now I definitely don’t have any regrets”
Muirhead is of course still in the early days of retirement and, by her own admission, still riding the wave of that gold medal in Beijing. But she’s also very open-minded about the situation, and knows a slump could well be on the way as she adjusts to life outside the competitive bubble of sport.
“[Retirement] has definitely helped the body, put it that way,” she added. “It’s helped my hip because I’d obviously had hip surgery a few years ago and I’d always had an ongoing issue there.
“That’s one part of it that’s been fantastic actually. It’s treated me very well so far and coming out at the top of your sport, if you can do that, I think is the best thing to do.
“But I am ready for a little bit of a slump. I’m ready to know that my life has completely changed because right now I’m still riding on the wave of the gold medal and that’s not going to last forever.
“But so far I’ve actually loved it. I work with a great management team and they definitely keep me on track. Right now I definitely don’t have any regrets.”
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt is you need to look after yourself”
Not having any regrets is something Muirhead can probably point to throughout much of her career. No doubt she has assured her status as one of the great British winter sports athletes but it certainly hasn’t been a smooth journey on that road.
That’s one thing many sports fans can forget, just how much sacrifice and hard work goes into making an athlete’s dream come true and that “bumpy” road has helped mould Muirhead into who she is today.
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt is you need to look after yourself,” she said. “You need to remember that you come first and you need to focus on making sure you're well before worrying too much about everyone else.
“Of course curling is a team sport so it’s very important you’re a team out there but if you’re not in the right place - physically or mentally - then you’re going to let down those girls.
“For me it was one lesson that I learned, you’ve got to put yourself first and, if you need help, you need to ask for help. Anything is possible if you make sure you’re in the right mindset and if you’re happy. If you’re happy your chances of winning are for sure going to go up.
“It is very nice to look back and think about my bumpy journey because, believe you me, it’s not been a smooth journey. I’m sure every athlete will say that.
“There’s so much that goes on that people don’t see, and there’s been dark times as well as very good times. You look back and you're just so glad you got through those times.
“Throughout my career there have been many times I’ve wanted to throw the shoes away and forget about this sport. I’ve got myself back up again along with some help, and here I am with an Olympic gold medal getting the chance to sit in the commentary booth now, and for me that’s great. I just love to share my knowledge of the sport.”
A new chapter in the commentary booth
That commentary booth provides the scene for Muirhead’s next stage of her life, the challenge of broadcasting on the sport she loves at the European Championships. No doubt it will be the first of many appearances she makes.
Beijing 2022 silver medallist Bruce Mouat is expected to lead the Scottish men’s team at the Championships and, like the women’s four, will be hoping to defend his team’s 2021 title. Rebecca Morrison will be leading a young Scottish team in what will be her first European Championships, so there is plenty of intrigue for those watching on.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Muirhead said. “I played in the European Championships, I’ve forgotten how many times - too many times! I’m always the one competing but to get the opportunity to sit back and be in the commentary box is really exciting.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, I’ve always wanted to share my knowledge of the game to the wider audience, and especially with it being on Eurosport and discovery+ it’s such a great opportunity for the audience to be able to watch that.
“Especially off the back of us getting the gold medal, the boys getting the silver medal, curling is in a fantastic place. You look at the teams going to the European Championships and there’s medals up for grabs again.”
- Watch Britain's Winter Olympians compete in the European Curling Championships live and exclusive on Eurosport and discovery+ from 21st November. Eve is also nominated for Action Woman of the Year 2022 at tonight's BT Sport's Action Women Awards, which is live at 7pm on BT Sport 1.
