Brad Gushue, the renowned Canadian curler, reflected on his team’s remarkable consistency in remaining competitive over the past two decades, emphasizing the challenge of maintaining motivation amidst the sport’s evolution. The St. John’s native, aged 45, disclosed that the upcoming 2025-26 season would mark his farewell to competitive curling in a recent video announcement.
Gushue cited family priorities as a key factor in his retirement decision, underscoring the emotional process leading to this significant career milestone. With numerous accolades to his name, including an Olympic gold in 2006 and a bronze in 2022, along with multiple Brier championships and Grand Slam titles, Gushue will retire as a curling legend.
His teammates, Mark Nichols, Brendan Bottcher, and Geoff Walker, expressed mixed emotions upon learning of Gushue’s retirement plans, acknowledging the impact it will have on their upcoming season, which includes the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials and the 2026 Brier in St. John’s.
Despite occasional struggles with motivation in the past season, Gushue is now energized by the prospect of his final year in the sport. The team is set to commence their season at the AMJ Masters in London, Ont., signaling the beginning of Gushue’s farewell tour in the curling world.