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On a November evening in a Glasgow pub located in Merchant City, four men in their early thirties gathered around a small table, chatting about the upcoming months. At that time, none of the patrons in the pub would have recognized who they were. Fast forward three months, the same venue shifted focus from Scotland’s Six Nations rugby victory to watching the curling final, with nearly everyone anxiously glued to the screens, hoping this same group of men could clinch a Winter Olympic title.
Team GB’s curling squad—Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan, Bobby Lammie, along with alternate Kyle Waddell—fought hard but ultimately fell short against Canada in the final. For the second consecutive Winter Olympics, they had to accept silver, mirroring their result from Beijing four years earlier. The team had been confident, with Mouat even describing the gold medal as “our gold medal” following a dramatic semi-final victory over Switzerland that captured the attention of 3.4 million BBC viewers at its peak. However, their previously unshakable form slipped during the final, as it had earlier in the round-robin phase, leaving the world champions to reflect on missed opportunities.
The origins of this remarkable team trace back nearly nine years, when these men first came together. Despite curling’s relatively small community, they were already familiar with one another: Hardie and McMillan are cousins, both aged 33 and from southwest Scotland. Lammie, aged 29 and from the same area, had previously played alongside Mouat, 31, and all four had connections dating back to their school days in Edinburgh. Early discussions led to a decisive meeting where they collectively set their sights on Olympic gold. Mouat said, “That first time we met, the thing we wrote at the top of our list of goals was to win Olympic gold.” They insisted on joining the elite British Curling programme as a unit, and that unified approach has since propelled them to become dominant figures in men’s curling, with multiple world titles, European crowns, and a record number of Grand Slam wins to their names.
Their success stems not only from individual skill but from a strong team dynamic based on honesty and mutual trust. McMillan said, “If one of us is in the wrong, the rest can say so,” while Mouat emphasized the importance of understanding how to motivate each other effectively. The players bring complementary strengths and personalities: McMillan as the energetic motivator, Hardie as the logical problem-solver, Mouat as the calm strategist, Lammie as the dependable anchor, and Waddell as the seasoned presence. Although commonly referred to as ‘Team Mouat,’ the team operates on a level playing field, sharing leadership and credit equally. BBC Sport pundit Vicky Wright highlights this balance as key to their success, praising the respect and distinct contributions each player offers.
Looking ahead, the question remains whether Team Mouat will continue their pursuit of Olympic gold. Mouat expressed determination to keep competing, and other members appear willing to follow suit. However, Hardie’s feelings are more uncertain. Having been emotionally affected by previous disappointments, his comments after Cortina suggested ongoing doubts: “It’s a little bit numb just now. I don’t know how I’ll process it all… Maybe it will never happen.” Team Mouat will not be defending their world title in Utah in April, with Scotland’s representatives to be decided by upcoming national championships. Meanwhile, Team Whyte is favored to represent Scotland and could become Britain’s leading men’s rink by the 2030 Winter Games in France. Despite the challenges, Hardie recognizes the importance of celebrating what they have achieved together after nearly a decade, acknowledging the lasting memories formed throughout their journey
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