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David Murdoch
David Murdoch
David Murdoch
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David Matthew Murdoch[1] MBE (born 17 April 1978) is a retired Scottish curler from Stirling.[2] As the Scotland skip, he and his former team of Ewan MacDonald, Warwick Smith, Euan Byers and Peter Smith are the 2006 and 2009 World Curling Champions. Representing Great Britain, he has been skip at three Winter Olympics, Torino 2006, finishing fourth, Vancouver 2010, finishing fifth and Sochi 2014, where he won an Olympic silver medal.[3] He served as national and Olympic coach for British Curling since September 2018, before being named Curling Canada's high-performance director in early 2023.[4]

Key Information

Sporting career

[edit]

Junior

[edit]

Murdoch is a two time World Junior Curling Champion – in 1995, as an alternate for Tom Brewster, Jr., and in 1996 as a lead for James Dryburgh. In 1998 he won a silver medal at the World Juniors as a third for Garry MacKay. By 1999, Murdoch had moved up to the position of skip, and led Scotland to a 6–3 record and fifth place at that year's world juniors. Four years later, he led Scotland to the European Championship title, beating Peja Lindholm's formidable Sweden team in the final.

Men's

[edit]

In 2005, Murdoch went to his first ever World Championships. At the 2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship his Scotland rink won the silver medal after losing to Canada's Randy Ferbey in the final. The team's fine run of form ensured all four members a place in the Great Britain men's squad for the 2006 Winter Olympics, with Murdoch in the position of skip. At the Olympics, Murdoch and his team lost in the bronze medal match to Pete Fenson of the United States. Two months later, Murdoch would avenge his defeat in 2005 by winning the gold medal at the 2006 World Men's Curling Championship. Murdoch defeated Canada (skipped by Jean-Michel Ménard) in the final. In December 2006 he won the silver medal in the European Championships in Basel, Switzerland, and followed that up with gold in 2007. He successfully defended his title at the European Curling Championships 2008 against Norway's Thomas Ulsrud.

Murdoch and his team represented Scotland again at the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship,[5] where he lost to Canada in the final.

In 2009, Murdoch once again won a gold medal for Scotland at the World Men's Curling Championship, which was held in Moncton, New Brunswick.[6]

On 17 January 2010, Murdoch's rink became the first non-Canadian team to win the TSN Skins Game. His team won $70,500 (£43,000) for the win.

After the 2009–10 season, Murdoch's Olympic team broke up.

In 2012, Murdoch teamed up with Tom Brewster's rink. The 2012–13 season saw them win the Edinburgh Invitational in late 2012 and the German Masters in Hamburg in January 2013. With Murdoch as skip, they won bronze at the 2013 World Championships. The team took bronze at the 2013 European Championships.[7] In October 2013, he was selected to skip the Great Britain squad at the 2014 Winter Olympics.[7] where he won a silver medal, losing to Canada's Brad Jacobs in the final. His 12 curling matches as skip of the Team GB men at the Sochi Olympics saw his last stones win crucial games including a vital play off against Norway in which his shot was dubbed by national press as ‘shot of the century’[citation needed] to make the semi-finals and then a last shot against Sweden to secure a silver medal and Olympic final place. The silver medal was the first for Team GB men’s curling since the 1924 games. Curling coverage at Sochi was seen for 30 hours[clarification needed] and was the most talked about sport on social media.[citation needed]

However, Murdoch's rink endured what he described as "a difficult year"[8] following the 2014 Olympics: they lost in the final of the Scottish Championships in February 2015 to defending champion and former team-mate Ewan MacDonald's team, denying Team Murdoch a place at the 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship,[9] before finishing third in the Scottish qualifying tournament held in October of that year for the 2015 European Curling Championships behind Kyle Smith and former team-mate Tom Brewster's rinks, thus failing to secure selection.[8] In 2016 Team Murdoch were runners-up to Team Brewster in both the Scottish championships in February[10] and the European Playdowns in October.[11] Murdoch's rink were selected to compete for Scotland at the 2017 World Curling Championship, where they secured qualification for Team GB to the 2018 Winter Olympics by finishing sixth: however in June 2017 it was announced that Kyle Smith's team had been chosen to compete at the 2018 Games over Team Murdoch and Team Brewster.[12] On 13 July 2017 Murdoch announced his retirement from his playing career, and will begin coaching.[13]

Murdoch has commentated and taken part in studio analysis on curling for Eurosport for many years and Channel 4 for the 2014 Winter Paralympics. He has appeared recently on many TV & Radio shows including: Sport Relief 2014, Daybreak, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Sky Sports, Sky 1’s Game Changers, BT Sport’s Panel with Tim Lovejoy and Matt Dawson, BBC Radio 2 with Anneka Rice, BBC Radio 5 Live with Danny Baker and Shelagh Fogarty, Talksport and recently being a winning panellist on A Question of Sport.[14] As a lottery funded athlete, he has also officially released the National Lottery draw live on BBC alongside Kate Garraway to over 10 million viewers. He has also featured alongside the rest of the GB curling team on Eggheads for BBC2, as broadcast in February 2015. The team won the Daily Record ‘Team of the year’ award at the recent Our Heroes ceremony. David is a keen supporter of many charities and good causes, his charity work includes giving out Duke of Edinburgh awards regularly, most recently at Holyrood in the presence of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He and his King Charles spaniel also recently supported the PDSA at a charity campaign photo shoot. He has also taken part in a charity curling calendar featuring as one of the world’s elite curlers. Recently David and the team supported Sport Relief at a special night televised by the BBC in London with Sebastian Coe and many summer Olympic legends at the Olympic park and later flew up to Glasgow to launch the Sport Relief mile.

Personal

[edit]

David Murdoch is from a talented curling family being the brother of Olympic coach Nancy Murdoch and former European Champion Neil Murdoch.[15] The siblings' mother, Marion Murdoch, is a curling coach who was given a lifetime achievement award by Sportscotland in 2015 for her coaching work. She has been credited by David as "a big part of how (he) ended up being a competitive player",[8] and she also helped develop fellow Olympic medallists Claire Hamilton and Anna Sloan.[16]

As a ten-year-old boy, Murdoch was an eyewitness to the crash of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, the town where he grew up.[17]

Murdoch's father, former Scottish curling champion[16] Matthew Murdoch, 70, died 12 days after watching his son win silver at the 2014 Winter Olympics.[18]

He is married and has a daughter.[19]

Murdoch was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to curling.[20]

Teams

[edit]
Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate
2002–03 David Murdoch Craig Wilson Neil Murdoch Euan Byers
2003–04 David Murdoch Euan Byers Neil Murdoch Craig Wilson Ronald Brewster
2004–05 David Murdoch Craig Wilson Neil Murdoch Euan Byers Ronald Brewster / Ewan MacDonald
2005–06 David Murdoch Euan Byers Ewan MacDonald Warwick Smith Craig Wilson
2006–07 David Murdoch Ewan MacDonald Warwick Smith Euan Byers David Hay / Craig Wilson / Pete Smith
2007–08 David Murdoch Ewan MacDonald Peter Smith Euan Byers Peter Loudon
2008–09 David Murdoch Ewan MacDonald Peter Smith Euan Byers Peter Loudon
2009–10 David Murdoch Ewan MacDonald Peter Smith Euan Byers Graeme Connal
2010–11 David Murdoch Warwick Smith Glen Muirhead Ross Hepburn
2011–12 David Murdoch Glen Muirhead Ross Paterson Richard Woods
2012–13 David Murdoch Tom Brewster Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow Greg Drummond
2013–14 David Murdoch Greg Drummond Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow Tom Brewster
2014–15 David Murdoch Greg Drummond Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow
2015–16 David Murdoch Greg Drummond Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow
2016–17 David Murdoch Greg Drummond Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow Ross Paterson

Awards

[edit]
  • WJCC All-star lead: 1996
  • WJCC All-star third: 1998

Grand Slam record

[edit]
Key
C Champion
F Lost in Final
SF Lost in Semifinal
QF Lost in Quarterfinals
R16 Lost in the round of 16
Q Did not advance to playoffs
T2 Played in Tier 2 event
DNP Did not participate in event
N/A Not a Grand Slam event that season
Event 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17
Masters/World Cup DNP DNP DNP DNP Q Q DNP DNP QF Q Q QF
Tour Challenge N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Q Q
The National Q DNP DNP DNP QF DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Q
Canadian Open DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Q QF DNP
Players' Championships DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Q DNP SF DNP
Champions Cup N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Q DNP

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

David Murdoch

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
David Murdoch (born 17 April 1978) is a retired Scottish curler and curling coach who has achieved significant success both as a competitive athlete and in high-performance roles. As the skip for Scotland and Great Britain, he led his teams to two World Men's Curling Championship gold medals in 2006 and 2009, becoming the only Scottish skip to win multiple world titles. He also secured three European Men's Curling Championship titles in 2003, 2007, and 2008, along with six Scottish Men's Curling Championship victories. Representing Great Britain at three Winter Olympics (2006, 2010, and 2014), Murdoch earned a silver medal in the men's event at the 2014 Sochi Games, marking Team GB's first men's Olympic curling medal. Additionally, he contributed to two World Junior Curling Championship wins in 1995 and 1996 in non-skipping roles. Murdoch's competitive career began in his youth in the Dumfries and Galloway region of , where he developed into a prominent left-handed known for his strategic play and leadership. After early successes at the junior level, he transitioned to elite international competition, forming key teams that included teammates like Ewan MacDonald, Warwick Smith, and Euan Breckenridge. His 2006 world title in , and 2009 victory in , , highlighted 's dominance in the sport during that era. Murdoch retired from international play in 2017 following the non-selection for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, ending a career that amassed seven gold medals, four silvers, and four bronzes across major events. In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed Member of the (MBE) in 2023 for services to . Transitioning to coaching, Murdoch served as Head Olympic Coach for British Curling from 2018, where he played a pivotal role in the team's historic performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, guiding the women's team to silver and the duo to gold—Britain's most successful curling Olympic campaign ever. His innovative approaches to training and athlete development earned him the UK Coaching Awards' Mussabini Medal in 2022 and the sportscotland High Performance Coach of the Year award. In February 2023, Murdoch left British Curling to become Curling Canada's of High Performance, a position he continues to hold as of 2025, focusing on elevating Canadian teams on the international stage.

Early life

Upbringing in Scotland

David Murdoch was born on 17 April 1978 in , . He grew up in the small rural town of , where his family owned a , immersing him in the agricultural life of the region from an early age. This countryside setting, characterized by tight-knit communities and traditional pursuits, shaped his childhood, fostering a sense of resilience and local pride amid the area's farming heritage. Murdoch came from a family deeply embedded in Scottish curling traditions, with his parents, Matt and Marion Murdoch, both accomplished curlers who had achieved national-level success. His older brother, , also pursued competitive , becoming a former European champion, while his , excelled in the sport and later became an Olympic coach. This familial involvement provided an early environment rich in sporting influences, with curling as a central household activity that his parents would introduce him to during his youth. At the age of ten, Murdoch witnessed the devastating bombing on 21 December 1988, when the aircraft exploded mid-air due to a terrorist attack, crashing into and killing 270 people, including 11 local residents. He was approximately 300 yards away, observing the tragedy from his father's car as debris rained down, an event that left a profound mark on the community, turning the local into a temporary and instilling a collective sense of loss and recovery in the town. The incident amplified the rural community's bonds, as residents supported one another through the aftermath, influencing Murdoch's formative years with themes of perseverance amid adversity.

Introduction to curling

David Murdoch was introduced to curling at a young age through his family's deep involvement in the sport, growing up in , , where his parents, Matt and Marion Murdoch, were active participants and club leaders. His older brother, , and , also curled competitively, inspiring Murdoch to join them on the ice as early as age seven, an unusually young start for the precision-based sport. The family's proximity to the Lockerbie Ice Rink, located across from his school and effectively a second home due to his parents' roles as coach and director, made curling a natural . Murdoch's initial training took place at the rink, where club sessions catered to children as young as six, allowing him to throw his first stones before age ten and quickly develop foundational techniques. These local club environments fostered his rapid progress, as he spent considerable time honing skills alongside family members and peers in informal games that transitioned into more organized youth sessions. Murdoch demonstrated a natural aptitude for skipping early on, taking on the role of due to his instinctive grasp of and ability to call shots effectively, traits nurtured through repetitive practice in . By the mid-1990s, this foundation led him from casual family play to formal youth programs, where he refined his leadership and technical abilities in a competitive yet supportive setting.

Competitive career

Junior achievements

David Murdoch began his international junior curling career as an alternate for the Scottish team at the 1995 in , contributing to their victory over in the final. The team, skipped by Tom Brewster Jr. and featuring Paul Westwood at third, Ronald Brewster at second, and Steve Still at lead, showcased strong teamwork that marked an early highlight for Scottish youth . In 1996, Murdoch advanced to the lead position on the Scottish rink skipped by James Dryburgh at the in , , where the team secured another by defeating 6-4 in the final. With Ross Barnet at third and Ronald Brewster at second, the squad demonstrated precise sweeping and strategy, earning Murdoch recognition on the all-star team as lead for his consistent performance. This repeat championship underscored his growing role in junior competitions and early collaborations with teammates like Brewster, who later became a national team regular. Murdoch transitioned to third on the 1998 Scottish team skipped by Garry MacKay at the in , , earning a silver medal after a 5-3 loss to in the final. Teammates included Sandy Reid at second and Richard Woods at lead, with the rink's semifinal win over highlighting their competitive edge. The following year, in 1999 at Östersund, Sweden, Murdoch took on the skip role for , leading Duncan Fernie, Andrew Reid, Richard Woods, and alternate Jamie Kirk to a fifth-place finish with a 6-3 round-robin record. These events solidified his development as a versatile player and leader among future elite curlers, including repeated partnerships with Woods.

Senior career highlights

Murdoch transitioned to the senior level in the early 2000s, making his debut at the Scottish Men's Curling Championship in 2003, where he skipped to his first national title alongside Craig Wilson, Neil Murdoch, and Euan Byers. He repeated as champion in 2005 with the same core lineup, then captured titles in 2006 and 2008 with Ewan MacDonald and Warwick Smith joining the front end in 2006, followed by Graeme Connal and Peter Smith in 2008. In 2009, Murdoch led a squad featuring MacDonald, Peter Smith, and Byers to another victory, solidifying his status as one of Scotland's premier skips. Murdoch's domestic success extended to the 2010s, where he played third on Tom Brewster's 2013 championship team before returning as skip to win the 2017 Scottish Men's Curling Championship against in the final, 10-4, with Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, and Michael Goodfellow. These six national titles as skip highlighted his tactical acumen and consistency in high-stakes play, often navigating tight round-robin formats and playoffs to represent internationally. On the Grand Slam of Curling circuit, Murdoch's teams regularly competed in major domestic events, achieving playoff berths and advancing deep into brackets. Notable performances included a quarterfinal run at the 2010 The National and eliminating in the 2014 Canadian Open playoffs, where his squad stole points in key ends to build a commanding lead. These appearances underscored his adaptability to North American-style tournaments and contributed to his reputation for strategic shot-making under pressure. Throughout his senior career, Murdoch excelled on the Scottish Curling Tour, with teams posting strong records in events like the and , including semifinal finishes and win rates exceeding 70% in select tournaments such as the 2010 (4-1). Overall, his domestic play yielded a career win percentage of approximately 58% across 92 documented games in major tour stops, reflecting sustained competitiveness against top European and Scottish opposition. Murdoch announced his retirement from competitive curling on July 3, 2017, citing a desire to focus on coaching amid British Curling's Olympic preparations, marking the end of a career defined by domestic dominance and leadership as skip.

Teams and teammates

Early teams

David Murdoch transitioned from junior curling to the senior level in the early , forming his first major rink in 2003 with Craig Wilson at third, his brother Neil Murdoch at second, and Euan Byers at lead. This lineup, representing the Curling Club, captured the 2003 Scottish Men's Curling Championship, marking Murdoch's debut as a senior national champion and establishing the core of his early competitive foundation. The same team retained much of its cohesion into 2005, again winning the Scottish Men's Curling Championship with Murdoch skipping, Wilson at third, Neil Murdoch at second, and Byers at lead, with Ewan MacDonald serving as alternate. This success qualified them to represent at the 2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in , where they demonstrated strong collaborative play en route to a finish, highlighting the rink's growing synergy and Murdoch's emerging leadership as skip. Ahead of the 2006 season, Murdoch restructured his team to bolster experience, recruiting Ewan MacDonald to third and 1999 world champion Warwick Smith to second while retaining Euan Byers at lead and adding Peter Smith as alternate. This formation, still based out of , dominated the 2006 Scottish Men's Curling Championship, securing qualification for the world stage and showcasing effective team dynamics through the blend of Murdoch's strategic skipping with the veterans' tactical expertise. The rink's preparation and internal cohesion were key to their performance at the 2006 Ford World Men's Championship in .

Later rinks and transitions

Following the , where Murdoch skipped Great Britain's men's team to a fifth-place finish, his longstanding rink disbanded amid efforts to restructure for renewed competitiveness in international play. In the 2010–11 season, Murdoch temporarily reformed a new lineup for the , serving as skip with third Glen Muirhead, second Ross Paterson, lead Richard Woods, and alternate Warwick Smith, a configuration aimed at leveraging experienced players while testing new synergies for qualification pathways. By the 2011–12 season, Murdoch transitioned to join Tom Brewster's established rink as third, contributing to a strategic alignment designed to enhance Scotland's prospects for the 2014 Olympics through combined expertise and consistent training. This move reflected broader adaptations in Scottish , where rinks frequently adjusted based on performance metrics and selection criteria set by British Curling to optimize Olympic qualification. In the 2012–13 season, Murdoch assumed the skip role within the same core group, leading a lineup of third Tom Brewster, second Scott Andrews, and lead Michael Goodfellow to secure Scotland's entry into major events. The team evolved slightly for the 2014 Olympics, with Greg Drummond slotting in as third, Scott Andrews shifting to second, and Michael Goodfellow to lead, alongside alternate Tom Brewster, prioritizing tactical balance and endurance for the high-stakes tournament. Post-Sochi, the rink maintained stability through the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, retaining the core of third Greg Drummond, second Scott Andrews, and lead Michael Goodfellow to build on Olympic momentum and pursue qualification for the 2018 Games, though incremental tweaks addressed performance dips in domestic qualifiers. Entering the 2016–17 season, Murdoch reconfigured the lineup once more, bringing in third Glen Muirhead, second Ross Paterson, and lead Richard Woods to inject specialized sweeping and strategic depth, driven by the need to meet stringent Olympic selection standards emphasizing recent results and team chemistry. These transitions underscored Murdoch's focus on adaptability amid evolving criteria from British Curling, including form-based evaluations and injury management within the squad. Murdoch's final playing season culminated in the 2017 Scottish Curling Championships victory with the Muirhead-Paterson-Woods lineup, but despite qualifying for the 2018 Olympics, selection criteria favored Kyle Smith's rink as the representative team, citing superior recent international consistency. This outcome, combined with accumulating physical demands from a decade of elite competition, prompted Murdoch's retirement from competitive play at age 39 to transition into roles.

International record

Olympic participation

David Murdoch first represented as skip of the men's team at the in , , where the team secured fourth place after a narrow 11-10 loss to the in the match. The lineup featured Murdoch at skip, Ewan MacDonald at third, Warwick Smith at second, and Euan Byers at lead. This performance marked a strong debut for the Scottish-led rink, building on their recent success, though it fell short of a podium finish. At the in , , Murdoch again skipped the Great Britain team to a fifth-place finish, concluding with a 7-4 playoff loss to . The team included Ewan MacDonald at third, Peter Smith at second, and Euan Byers at lead, with Graeme Connal as alternate. Despite entering as world champions from , the rink struggled with consistency in the round-robin stage, finishing with a 4-5 record before the elimination game. Murdoch's third Olympic appearance came at the in , , where he led to a historic —the first for the men's team since —after a 9-3 defeat to in the gold medal final. The team consisted of Murdoch at skip, Tom Brewster at third, Greg Drummond at second, Scott Andrews at lead, and Michael Goodfellow as alternate. They advanced through a tense win over (8-7) and a 6-5 semifinal victory against , showcasing resilience after three straight round-robin losses that nearly ended their medal hopes. This achievement highlighted Murdoch's leadership in high-pressure situations. Preparation for Murdoch's Olympic campaigns was marked by rigorous selection processes within British Curling, which allocates a single spot per gender based on performances at events like the European and Championships. Funding from UK Sport supported training, but resources were limited compared to curling powerhouses like , requiring teams to balance domestic commitments with intensive international preparation. For the 2014 Games, Murdoch's rink faced additional hurdles in securing qualification amid competition from other Scottish squads, ultimately prevailing through consistent results in prior seasons.

World and European championships

David Murdoch represented in eight (WCC) between and 2017, securing two gold medals, two silvers, and two bronzes. His first appearance came in in Victoria, , where his team earned silver after a 11-4 loss to in the final. In in , Murdoch skipped to its first WCC gold since 1999, defeating 7-4 in the final behind strong performances from teammates Ewan MacDonald, Warwick Smith, and Euan Byers. The 2006 victory marked 's first world men's title in 30 years, highlighting Murdoch's tactical precision in high-pressure draws. In 2008 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Murdoch claimed silver after falling 6-3 to in the final. His second gold arrived in 2009 in Moncton, New Brunswick, where edged 7-6 in a dramatic final, with Murdoch's final securing the win after 's Kevin Martin opted for a risky freeze that missed. Bronze medals followed in 2010 in , , where Murdoch served as alternate, and 2013 in Victoria, . Across these events, Murdoch's teams compiled a strong win-loss record, often exceeding 70% success in round-robin play, underscoring his consistency against top international competition. In the (ECC), Murdoch competed in 11 tournaments from 2003 to 2013, amassing three gold medals, one silver, and two bronzes. He claimed his first ECC gold in 2003 in , , leading Scotland to victory over strong fields including and . Bronze followed in 2005 in , , before a silver in 2006 in , , where Switzerland's Andreas Schwaller defeated them 7-6 in the final. Murdoch then dominated with consecutive golds in 2007 in Füssen, , and 2008 in Örnsköldsvik, , defeating 's 8-7 in the 2008 final to defend the title. A bronze in 2013 in , , capped his ECC career, with his teams frequently posting win percentages above 80% in medal rounds. These achievements established Murdoch as a cornerstone of Scottish 's international success during the .

Post-competitive career

Coaching with British Curling

Following his retirement from competitive in 2017, David Murdoch was appointed as British Curling's national and Olympic coach on 1 September 2018, succeeding a role that emphasized building elite-level performance structures. In this position, Murdoch prioritized program reforms to address gaps in coaching expertise and athlete progression, including the utilization of the National Curling Academy as a central hub for year-round professional training. Murdoch's high-performance strategies focused on fostering a rigorous , tactical acumen, and continuous improvement among athletes, while advancing coach education through initiatives like Level 2+ certification programs to bolster club-to-elite pathways. He implemented a 12-month training calendar to professionalize the environment, particularly targeting Scottish and talent pipelines by enhancing grassroots development and collaboration with performance director Graeme Thompson. These efforts aimed to cultivate medal-contending teams, with an emphasis on daily self-improvement and strategic preparation for international competition. Under Murdoch's leadership, British Curling achieved significant success at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where he oversaw preparations for multiple disciplines, contributing to a for in the women's curling event and a in the men's event, marking a high point in GB curling's post-2018 resurgence. Murdoch held the role until February 2023, during which time his initiatives strengthened the integration of Scottish talent into GB programs, laying foundations for sustained high-performance outcomes.

Role at Curling Canada

In February 2023, David Murdoch was appointed as Director of High Performance for , officially joining the organization in March 2023 following an early transition from his role with British Curling. Murdoch's responsibilities include overseeing the high performance program, which encompasses national team selection and preparation, coach development initiatives, and the creation of Olympic pathways targeting the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. He relocated to to integrate into Curling 's operations, basing his work at the High Performance Centre in , , where he collaborates with a team of specialists to support athlete training and performance analysis. Under Murdoch's leadership, introduced a new performance strategy in the 2023-24 season, emphasizing data-driven planning, integrated sport science support, and enhanced coach education through programs like Curling Coach+, a pilot initiative providing webinars and expert resources that received positive feedback from participants. This approach contributed to strong results, including nine medals across 14 international events and qualification for all five Olympic and Paralympic disciplines for 2026. By 2025, spearheaded the establishment of regional training hubs in locations such as , , Kitchener-Waterloo, , and Victoria, aimed at improving youth and elite development through consistent coaching, advanced facilities, and technical tools to sustain Canada's global competitiveness. These efforts involved collaborations with provincial curling associations and coaches, including Jill Officer and Greg Ewasko, to align national programs with emerging international challenges.

Personal life

Family and relationships

David Murdoch married Canadian Stephanie Faubert in 2012, having met her during the in where she was involved in local event activities. Faubert, originally from , and a former Miss , provided significant support for Murdoch's international commitments, including relocating to in 2023 to facilitate family stability amid his coaching transitions. The couple has three children—daughters Grace and Madeleine, and son Matthew—who hold dual Scottish-Canadian nationality due to their mother's heritage, allowing the family to balance Murdoch's extensive travel for competitions and coaching with closer ties to extended relatives in Canada. Murdoch grew up in a curling-oriented family in Lockerbie, Scotland, with his older brother Neil, a former European champion and world junior champion who later became a veterinary surgeon, and sister Nancy, an accomplished curler turned Olympic coach. Their father, Matt Murdoch, a three-time Scottish national champion and former president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, passed away suddenly from a heart attack on March 5, 2014, just 12 days after David's silver medal win at the Sochi Winter Olympics. The family described the loss as shocking and devastating, with David paying tribute to his father as a "brilliant dad" whose influence shaped his curling passion.

Honors and legacy

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, David Murdoch was appointed a Member of the (MBE) in the 2022 for services to . He received the honor at a ceremony held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in on January 18, 2023, presented by the . Murdoch's career has significantly influenced the revival of curling in Scotland and the development of Great Britain's Olympic programs. As a prominent figure in the sport, his achievements as a player and subsequent role in establishing British Curling's National Curling Academy from 2018 helped foster talent and infrastructure, contributing to renewed interest following the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Serving as Olympic Head Coach, he guided Team GB to gold in the women's event and silver in the men's event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, marking a high point in the program's history. Murdoch's mentorship legacy extends through his coaching efforts and initiatives to inspire younger curlers. In 2015, he launched the Matt Murdoch Curling Foundation to promote youth involvement and development in , providing opportunities that encouraged participation among new generations. His guidance of emerging athletes as national coach emphasized long-term growth, influencing the pathway for future Olympians. As of 2025, Murdoch continues to shape global curling standards in his role as Executive Director of High Performance at , where he leads comprehensive reviews of programs and expansions of regional training hubs across the country, including new facilities in , , , and . These efforts aim to elevate international competitiveness and set benchmarks for high-performance curling worldwide.

Awards and records

Major titles and medals

David Murdoch achieved significant success in international and national competitions, securing multiple gold medals and other honors as a skip and team member. At the , Murdoch skipped the team to a at the in , , where they lost to in the final. In the World Men's Curling Championships, he led to gold medals in 2006 in , defeating in the final, and in 2009 in Moncton, New Brunswick, overcoming . He also earned a in 2005 in , losing to in the final. Additionally, he contributed to bronze medals in 2010 in , , as the alternate on the Warwick Smith rink, and in 2013 in , on the Tom Brewster team. Murdoch's European Curling Championships record includes gold medals as skip in 2003 in , , against ; in 2007 in Füssen, Germany, beating ; and in 2008 in , , defeating again. Domestically, Murdoch won the Scottish Men's Curling Championship six times: five times as skip in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009, and once in 2013 as a key member of the Tom Brewster rink. Early in his career, Murdoch claimed junior titles, including gold at the in 1995 as alternate for Tom Brewster in , and in 1996 as lead for James Dryburgh in .

Grand Slam of Curling performances

David Murdoch was a prominent international competitor in the throughout the 2000s and 2010s, participating in all four major events: the Masters, Canadian Open, , and Champions Cup. His appearances on the professional tour showcased Scotland's (and later Great Britain's) strength against dominant Canadian rinks, often resulting in tight matches that highlighted the global competitiveness of the series. Murdoch's team achieved several playoff berths and notable upsets during this period. In the 2016 WFG Masters, he skipped his rink to a 7-3 tiebreaker victory over Kevin Koe's team—featuring a perfect game in the fifth end—to advance to the quarterfinals, where they faced Steve Laycock's squad. Earlier, at the 2014 Canadian Open, Murdoch eliminated Jeff Stoughton's team 8-3 in a must-win C-event game, extending his tournament run amid challenging pool play. In the 2013 Masters, Murdoch reached the quarterfinals but lost 6-4 to Stoughton in a closely contested match. He also secured victories over other top teams, such as a 6-4 win against in a Tour Challenge . These performances underscored key rivalries, particularly with Canadian skips like Koe and , whom Murdoch defeated in extra-end play during a 2015 Masters . Murdoch's Grand Slam results evolved alongside team adjustments, with early success in the mid-2000s alongside teammates Ewan MacDonald and Warwick Smith giving way to sustained contention in the 2010s with lineups featuring Greg Drummond, Scott Andrews, and Michael Goodfellow—maintaining playoff contention despite the tour's increasing depth.

References

  1. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/110154
  2. https://www.curling.ca/blog/2023/02/02/welcome-david-murdoch/
  3. https://olympic-speakers.com/speakers/david-murdoch
  4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-olympics/26266624
  5. https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/828739
  6. https://edubilla.com/sport/curling/players/david-murdoch/
  7. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/sochi-olympics-hero-david-murdoch-slides-into-retirement-1445922
  8. https://www.britishcurling.org.uk/news/olympic-head-coach-david-murdoch-among-nation-s-top-coaches-honoured-at-25th-annual-uk-coaching-awards/
  9. https://www.scottishcurling.org/david-murdoch-mbe-receives-prestigious-mussabini-medal-at-uk-coaching-awards/
  10. https://www.britishcurling.org.uk/news/david-murdoch-leaves-british-curling/
  11. https://www.curling.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/EE25_PROOF_FINAL2.pdf
  12. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/30/winter-olympics-curling-lockerbie-david-murdoch
  13. https://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst4003.html
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  15. https://motivational-speakers.co.uk/speakers/olympic-speakers/david-murdoch/
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  18. https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/457012/David-Murdoch-hopes-to-commemorate-Lockerbie-disaster-with-curling-Olympic-medal
  19. https://okotoksonline.com/articles/olympic-curler-joins-okotoks-beer-league
  20. https://www.scottishcurling.org/comps/past-international-medallists/world-junior-curling-championships-medallists-men/
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  22. https://results.worldcurling.org/Award/Details/Wjccallmen
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  27. https://curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=4696&teamid=107632&profileid=0
  28. https://www.sportsnet.ca/curling/murdoch-eliminates-stoughton-at-canadian-open/
  29. https://www.curlingzone.com/worldcurling/team.php?teamid=44813
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  33. https://results.worldcurling.org/championship/Details/226
  34. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/curling-scots-aim-for-euro-gold-but-worlds-entry-is-priority-1651950
  35. https://www.perthmasters.com/team/team-brewster-scotland/
  36. https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/scotland-edges-denmark-for-bronze-at-world-mens-curling-championship-in-victoria-4584860
  37. https://www.scottishcurling.org/team-gb-male-curlers-named-for-sochi-2014/
  38. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/34807711
  39. https://results.worldcurling.org/championship/DisplayResults?tournamentId=435&associationId=0&teamNumber=0&drawNumber=201
  40. https://www.teamgb.com/article/murdoch-senior-fan-scotland-s-five-man-set/4iXObrPYZylAm2Aj6de1Vi
  41. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/40382356
  42. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/vancouver-2010-curling-teams-line-up
  43. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/feb/16/great-britain-curling-winter-olympics
  44. https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/david-murdoch
  45. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/24366691
  46. https://www.teamgb.com/article/murdoch-gets-lucky-determined-seize-second-chance/cefpdB7yVbx7AdxpBWFNa
  47. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/19/sochi-2014-winter-olympics-great-britain-curling
  48. https://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/historical-funding-figures
  49. https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1016305/team-gb-announce-men-s-curling-team-for-sochi-2014
  50. http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/110154
  51. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/39382605
  52. https://africa.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2402867
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  58. https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/45298438
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