Winter Olympics 2026: Team GB duo Hammy McMillan and Bruce Mouat reflect on curling silver - 'One hell of a ride, and hopefully it’s not finished yet'
Published 22/02/2026 at 18:27 GMT
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Team GB won silver in the men's curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina as they were beaten in the gold-medal match by Canada. Team GB's Hammy McMillan and Bruce Mouat have reflected on the result and explained why it is "a little bit easier this time" than four years earlier in Beijing. McMillan said it has "been one hell of a ride, and hopefully it’s not finished yet".
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It was a rollercoaster ride for Team GB’s men's curling team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
They looked down and out after three straight losses in the round-robin stage, but rallied to reach the semi-finals, and then produced arguably their best performance to beat Switzerland.
In the final against Canada they were behind, then ahead, then seemingly had the advantage, before gold was snatched away at the death, leaving Team GB settling for silver at the second successive Winter Olympics.
Grant Hardie said soon after the final that he could not look at the silver medal as it "hurt too much".
And, a day later, Hammy McMillan told TNT Sports’ Laura Robson that there had been "celebrations and commiserations" in the hours that followed the result.
"It was one of those where after we left the changing room we said ‘no more tears, let’s go and enjoy tonight’," McMillan said.
"We met family, friends, all got together, and we did celebrate.
"We are still disappointed. We came here for one thing and one thing only and to come this close to it, it hurts. I struggled to keep my emotions in check, the tears were streaming down the face at one point…today, looking back at the fact we can sit here and say we have been to two Games and walked away with silver twice. It’s a little bit easier this time than last time."
Team GB’s quartet of McMillan, Bruce Mouat, Hardie, and Bobby Lammie led against Canada with two ends to go, but could not close out the win as the North Americans triumphed 9-6.
Although there was disappointment afterwards that they could not go one better than four years ago in Beijing, Team GB skip Mouat said he was "proud" to win silver.
He said: "Our sport is down to millimetres, and it felt like we were very close in every game we played.
"If we had just one or two shots that would go differently we probably have a 9-0 record in the round robin. It’s just so hard to be at the top level the entire time and that is what is pretty cool with this team.
"When we started we knew our ceiling was so high, but being able to raise our floor and be consistent is what we worked so hard on over the last four years. Being able to win two World Championships and win another Olympic medal is so satisfying.
"We have worked so hard and I am very proud of us for getting to this point again."
Mouat added that it has been "pretty cool" to see other teams trying to "chase" Team GB in the lead-up to the Olympics.
"Over the past two or three seasons we have felt that we are pushing the boundaries of being the best team and figuring out things to make us even better and we saw that other teams were copying us, but it’s been really cool," he said.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"Everyone in the field has been pushing each other to be even better, and it’s really exciting for curling as a whole. It feels like we have pushed those boundaries even further and people are starting to chase us which has been pretty satisfying."
Team GB celebrated their silver medal with family and friends, and will now take a break before the launch of a new professional curling league, the Rock League.
Soon, attention will then turn to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps and another bid to win gold.
"We have experienced the disappointment before so I guess it’s a bit easier to get over," said McMillan.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"We put this team together eight or nine years ago, and we have never looked back. We probably see each other more than our families. We live and breathe together, we train together every day, we are on the road 24/7. These guys are my brothers.
"It’s been one hell of a ride, and hopefully it’s not finished yet."
Team GB finished the 2026 Winter Olympics with a record three gold medals.
Watch the Milano Cortina 2026 Closing Ceremony live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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