Curling star Eve Muirhead taking a break from the ice to consider future

Eve Muirhead says she is looking forward to a break from the ice rink and will take “some time to consider” her next moves as it is unclear what the Olympic champion’s future holds.

Muirhead admitted this season has been the “best of her” life after scooping an unprecedented three gold medals.

The curling greats’ latest gold medal is the prize for an undefeated run at the European mixed doubles last weekend in Geneva. Adding to a glittering cabinet.

But after enduring a packed schedule, the 32-year-old says she is keen for some downtime and will have a think about what to do next.

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In an exclusive sit down interview with STV News Muirhead said: “What’s ahead for me, honestly, is still the unknown. I’ve been on the road for months and months. I need to take a bit of time to decide what I want to do going forward.

“It’s been on the back of a very successful season and of course it’s going to be hard to replicate that season. But as an athlete I always want to be the best. But I’m going to take some time and decide what I’m going to do.

“The last year has been incredible and by far has been the most successful season. I actually didn’t think I could have topped the season back in 2013/14 when I won the world ladies championships and went on to win my Olympic bronze medal. But I have to say this season has topped it.”

The success stands in stark contrast with just twelve months ago when the Team GB curling captain had no team to speak of. Muirhead’s women’s squad missed the ranking positions for the Beijing Olympics, and her team was disbanded by British curling authorities in favour of a selection process.

Events that followed featured a variety of players – until a winning combination formed – Team Muirhead made up of Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hayley Duff and Mili Smith struck a surprise gold in the European Championships – beating Sweden in the final.

From there the team won a second chance at Olympic qualification before defeating all odds by claiming gold in Beijing.

Muirhead said: “I’d meddled before and I’d failed before at the Olympics – so I wanted to prove that I was capable of getting gold.

“After getting the European success and after finishing top of the Olympic qualifying event – the girls all knew we were capable of doing something very special. But you’ve still got to do it against the best in the world – and it was a lot of grinding. But winning gold with my teammates and I was a dream come true.”