Olympic Curling Champion Just Came Out Of Retirement After FOUR YEARS — And The Reason Will Give You Chills

Stop what you're doing, because Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead just un-retired from curling — four years after walking away from the sport she dominated for 15 years.

Yes, really. The 36-year-old Scot who won gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 is lacing up her curling shoes again, and the reason why is actually beautiful.

She Couldn't Stay Away 🥌

According to BBC Sport, Muirhead says being Team GB's chef de mission (basically, the team boss) at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier this year "brought back emotions that I had not felt for a long time."

Translation: the competitive fire never went out.

"But the competitive side of me never disappeared," she explained in a statement. "The more time I spent around elite sport and curling, the more I began to wonder whether I still had something to give on the ice."

She'll be teaming up with two-time Olympic silver medallist Bobby Lammie in mixed doubles this season — the same pairing that won the world title back in 2022. Their goal? The Alpes 2030 Winter Olympics.

The Tea ☕

• Eve Muirhead, 36, retired from curling in 2022 after FINALLY winning Olympic gold in Beijing (it took four Olympics, but she got there)
• Being around the sport as Team GB's chef de mission at the 2026 Winter Olympics reignited her passion
• She's returning to compete in mixed doubles with Bobby Lammie, eyeing the 2030 Games
• Plot twist: her former gold medal-winning teammate Vicky Drummond is ALSO coming out of retirement — and they'll be RIVALS

Wait, It Gets Better

Here's where this gets absolutely delicious: Vicky Drummond, who won gold alongside Muirhead in Beijing, is ALSO coming back. The 32-year-old intensive care nurse says working with BBC Sport at the Milan-Cortina Games rekindled her own competitive spark.

But here's the kicker — Drummond won't be Muirhead's teammate this time. They'll be competing AGAINST each other in the GB Curling mixed doubles programme. Drummond will partner with Euan Kyle.

Friends. Teammates. Olympic champions. Now rivals. We are OBSESSED with this storyline.

'I Want My Daughter To See This'

Drummond's reason for coming back is honestly making us emotional. She wants to show her young daughter Sophie that "becoming a mum doesn't mean your ambitions have to end."

"More than anything, I want my return to mean something beyond the ice," Drummond said. "I want Sophie to grow up knowing that it's never too late to chase something that excites you."

BRB, we're not crying, YOU'RE crying. 😭

Why This Matters

Muirhead didn't just win gold and bounce — she's been open about the mental health challenges she faced during her 15-year quest for Olympic glory. Walking away in 2022 was about more than just retirement; it was about protecting her wellbeing after the pressure of chasing that dream for so long.

The fact that she's coming back now, from "a very different place" as she puts it, says everything. She's refreshed, physically strong, and — crucially — doing this because she WANTS to, not because she feels she HAS to.

"I know how demanding the road to an Olympics is, but I am returning from a very different place," Muirhead said. "I feel refreshed, physically strong and excited by the challenge. I would not be coming back unless I believed I could perform at that level again."

The Battle Begins

BBC Sport's Richard Winton points out that the competition between Muirhead, Drummond, and another Beijing gold medallist Jen Dodds to become GB's top mixed doubles pairing heading into 2030 is going to be "fascinating."

Fascinating is one word for it. We're going with UNMISSABLE.

At 36, Muirhead is coming back with Olympic gold and a wealth of experience dealing with pressure. Drummond is younger at 32 and returns with a completely different motivation. This is the sports rivalry we didn't know we needed — respectful, inspiring, and absolutely going to deliver drama on the ice.

Plus, Muirhead has spent the time away completing Hyrox fitness events around the world "at a predictably elite level," according to the BBC. Translation: she's been keeping herself SHARP.

What Happens Next?

Both athletes will compete in the GB Curling mixed doubles programme this season, with the ultimate goal of making it to the Alpes 2030 Winter Olympics. That means we're about to watch two Olympic champions — former teammates and close friends — go head-to-head for the next few years.

The best part? They're both doing this on their own terms, with their own reasons, and with zero regrets about walking away in the first place.

"I have no idea where this road will lead, but I'm excited to find out," Drummond said.

Same, Vicky. SAME.

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Sources:

• BBC Sport: Olympic champion curler Muirhead revokes retirement

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Are you Team Muirhead or Team Drummond? And would YOU come out of retirement for one more shot at glory? Sound off below! 👇