Team GB’s silver medal-winning curling team say they would «love» to go for gold at the 2030 Winter Olympics in France but will «sit down in the summer» before making a decision.
Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, plus alternate Kyle Waddell, arrived in Italy for this year’s Games as world champions and favourites, but were beaten by Canada in a tight encounter that ended 9-6.
It was the rink’s second runners-up medal following a loss to Sweden in China four years ago.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, McMillan said competitors in elite sport were «getting younger» but added: «I’m not going to say no. I’d love to be there again in 2030 to try to get that one medal we don’t have.
«Me and Grant are the two oldest in the team at 33 right now, so we’d be 37, which in terms of being a sports person is quite old, but for curling maybe not.»
In a separate interview with BBC Breakfast, Hardie explained: «I think that’s why myself and Hammy were quite emotional on the podium. At the age of 33, you don’t know if you’ll get to another Olympics.
«One was a dream, two was even better. Two medals from two is amazing.
«I think we’ll sit down in the summer and see what the next four years looks like.»
He added: «It was the same when we sat down four years ago after Beijing. What can we do different? How can we get back an change things?
«To end up with the same [medal], it’s not a wasted four years because it’s very special to come home with a silver, [but] it still obviously hurts because you know you wanted the gold.»
The team have been together for almost a decade with skipper Mouat, 31, believing their closeness has played a key role in their success on the world stage.
«We know each personality so well now,» he said. «It’s quite important you’re saying the right thing to each person to get the best out of them.
«It’s things we’ve worked on with sports psychologists. I think it’s all worked in our favour and now we’re sitting here with two Olympic medals.
«It’s testament to all the hard work we’ve put in.»
McMillan revealed their personality traits had been among the «insights» studied at the outset of putting the rink together.
«Bruce is that caring person, Grant’s the analytical data-driven [one], always thinks before he speaks. I don’t,» said McMillan.
«I think it’s great having four very different characters to help build one team,» Hardie added.
«Nine years together working on it, it’s something that clicked pretty early and it’s went from strength to strength.»
Related topics
- Curling
- Winter Sports
- Winter Olympics
-
Not the medal they wanted – but GB curlers bring spotlight to sport
-
2 days ago
-
-
GB curlers denied Olympic gold at death yet again
-
2 days ago
-
-
How Team GB is leading the way in curling’s arms race
-
11 February
-
