Latest news with #GrantHardie
The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Mouat: We're missing Olympic gold and we're desperate to put it right
30-year-old Mouat and his teammates of Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan have, over the past year in particular, established themselves as the standout men's curling team on the planet. Their most recent season, which came to a close at the end of April, was literally history-making. Team Mouat became the first curling team ever to win four Grand Slam of Curling titles in one season and added to that, they became world champions for the second time, reclaiming the title they won in 2023. Bruce Mouat and his team had what he describes as an almost perfect season last season (Image: JUSSI NUKARI/ Getty Images) It's the kind of season even the most optimistic would have been wary about hoping for and Mouat admits even he was taken aback somewhat by his and his teammates ability to continue notching up win after win. 'It's an incredible thing to have people talk about how successful our season was but for us, the season was actually a bit of a blur. We went from event to event and just kept winning,' the skip from Stirling says. 'To keep coming away with titles was just incredible - we were riding this amazing wave of momentum and confidence. We had a bit of a blip at the Scottish Championships (where Team Mouat lost in the final to compatriots, Team Whyte) but apart from that it was pretty close to a perfect season for us. 'We were taking so much self-belief and self-confidence into each game and every tournament, we knew that if we played our best, our chances of winning were pretty high, which is a nice feeling to have.' With his medals from last season safely tucked away in his trophy cabinet, Mouat's sights are now set on filling the one last gap in his résumé. Having won multiple European, World and Grand Slam titles, as well as Olympic silver, the only thing missing from Mouat's CV is Olympic gold. That's something he's hoping to rectify in the very near future. The four members of Team Mouat, plus alternate Kyle Waddell, have become the first athletes selected for Team GB for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which will take place in February of next year. Such early confirmation of the fact they're heading to their second Olympic Games gives Mouat and his teammates the luxury of being able to focus purely on how to be at their best when the most prestigious event in the curling calendar rolls around. Heading into Olympic season as clear favourites for Olympic gold is a high-pressure position in which to be but it's one in which Mouat feels entirely comfortable. 'Being selected this early takes a little bit of the pressure off and gives us seven months of planning to get it right so we can make sure we peak just when we need to,' he says. 'Knowing that we're going to our second Olympics is, in itself, very exciting but we're going there to try and win. Olympic gold is the one thing we're missing so hopefully we can play our best when it matters. 'Having the number one ranking does put a target on your back but it's also nice to know that we have the ability to beat all the teams we play against - that's a comforting feeling. 'We feel fine about the pressure on us. What's a nice feeling is knowing that we have the upper hand mentally because all the other teams know they'll have to play one of their best games ever to beat us - I always like going into games knowing that.' With Team Mouat having won silver in their last Olympic outing, at Beijing 2022, Mouat is determined to go one better this time around and with selection for the mixed doubles at Milan-Cortina alongside Jen Dodds looking likely, he'll be in the unique and fortunate position of having the potential of winning two Olympic gold medals and replicating two of his very earliest Olympic memories. Team Mouat won silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics (Image: Getty Images) 'My first Olympic memory is Dame Kelly Holmes winning her two Olympic golds in 2004. By 2008, I was really into swimming so I remember watching Rebecca Adlington win her two gold medals in the pool,' he says. 'It's amazing to think I could potentially have the same success as they had. Obviously winning two golds is the absolute dream but I know how much work it will take to get to that point. I'm very willing to do the work over the next six months, though, and I am hoping to emulate their achievements and do what I dreamt of as a kid." Mouat has never been one to get ahead of himself but with the prospect of winning Olympic gold certain to be very much be in the forefront of his mind over the coming months, he has allowed himself to ponder what it would feel like to call himself and his teammates Olympic champions. 'When we first got together as a team, our long-term goal was always to win the Olympics,' he says. 'We got very close last time and came away disappointed that we didn't get over the line so we put a plan in place for the next four years to go one better and now we know we have the opportunity to do that. 'We've won two world titles to get to this point and we've put ourself in the right place to achieve Olympic gold. It would mean everything to become Olympic champions, and it'd feel like the last eight years has been worth all the blood, sweat and tears.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
We want Olympic gold for Charlie. Scottish curlers to compete in memory of young footballer who lost skin cancer battle
TEAM GB 's men's curling team are determined to win Winter Olympic gold in memory of a young Scottish footballer who died after a battle with skin cancer. Charlie Watson, who continued playing for Threave Rovers despite his diagnosis, was a close family friend of curler Grant Hardie and an avid fan of the Scottish team skippered by Bruce Mouat. Watson, who passed away at the age of 20 two weeks ago, raised thousands of pounds for cancer research and hit the headlines when he played in a televised Scottish Cup clash against Stranraer last October. Hardie, part of the Scotland team who won the world championship in April, described Watson as 'a special individual', while team-mate Hammy McMillan said they will be fighting to win gold in his honour in Italy early next year. 'Charlie's mum and dad have sponsored our team for years and they're close family friends, so it's heartbreaking for all of us,' said Hardie, who was brought up in Dumfries. 'I was his stepdad's groomsman at his wedding, and we've known each other for a long time. 'We raised $10,000 for Charlie in our recent Battle of the Sexes match in Toronto organised by the Grand Slam of Curling. We played against Rachel Homan's Canada team — so it was the men's world No 1 men's team against the world No 1 women's team. The arena was sold out — with 4,000 people in attendance — and all the money went to our two charities. 'Charlie was meant to fly out to the event but, sadly, he couldn't manage because of his condition by then.' McMillan added: 'His mum and stepdad, Amanda and Richard, have been terrific supporters over the years. We've always kept in touch. Charlie said he couldn't thank us enough for what we'd done. He said it was just the best. It makes you upset, we would have done anything to help him. 'We will absolutely be fighting for gold for Charlie at next year's Olympics. His mum and stepdad have already booked tickets to come to Italy. Hopefully, we can do it for Charlie, and for all our families as well, that have supported our journey. That would top it all off.' Hardie said the young footballer had found great solace from the messages of support he received from around the country. 'Charlie had some lovely messages, including from Steven Gerrard and Duncan Ferguson. They were really nice, inspirational messages and gave him a lift. He really appreciated that. 'His mum had done so much research and had found a machine that targeted the treatment, so the money raised went towards that. Unfortunately, it was just a little too late by then, and the cancer had spread to his brain. 'Charlie was always so positive. He was always looking to find ways to defeat it. He fought so hard — right until the very end.' As well as honouring Watson, Team GB's men's curling team will be attempting to make history at the Winter Olympics. GB men haven't won gold at the event since 1924 when Willie Jackson, son Laurence, Robin Welsh and Tom Murray triumphed in Chamonix in France, in what was then a demonstration event. It wasn't until 2006 that curling was officially recognised as an event at the Games — and for Jackson's rink to be credited as Olympic champions. Should Team Mouat take gold they will arguably become Britain's best men's team of all time, having won two world championships and multiple other competitions domestically and worldwide. Chosen to lead the GB charge, the Scots narrowly missed out on gold to Sweden in the Olympic final at Beijing 2022. Mouat's confident they can go one better at Milano Cortina next February after a year of success at both World and European level. 'It's been a long journey. The last three years we've put a lot of work in to get to this point, and it's really satisfying to know we're now the team. That's where the hard work starts again,' said the 30-year-old. 'It's not just about being there, it's about coming home with the right colour of medal, after being so close last time. 'Losing in Beijing was very tough. Athletes often talk about the 'hangover' from an Olympics. It was pretty tough to get motivated to go back onto the ice after that, and to wrap your head around the dream you've had for so long, just not being the right colour of medal. I wanted to go to an Olympics, I achieved that, but I also wanted to bring back the gold medal and getting so close was really hard. It took me around six months to really want to be back on the ice. 'We did end up coming out the other side, and then won the World Championship (in Canada in April) in front of our families, which was extra special.' Mouat, who will be joined by McMillan, Hardie and Bobby Lammie in Italy next year, described the prospect of becoming the first British team since 1924 to win gold as 'pretty cool'. He said: 'We still have all that drive to want to go and win it. That's why we're putting so much effort in. I love playing with the guys and love my sport.' Mouat will pair up again in the mixed doubles with Jen Dodds, who won gold with Eve Muirhead's rink in Beijing and will this time join Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Jackson and Sophie Sinclair in Italy. He added: 'I'm also really fortunate that I've got another opportunity with Jen in the mixed doubles, so I'm really lucky to have the chance there as well to do it again.'
