All about Eve: Golden girl Muirhead ‘could be one of the greatest ever’ – Murdoch

Murdoch, the team’s Olympics curling coach, watched Muirhead craft an emphatic 10-3 win over Japan to secure the sport’s biggest title at her fourth attempt.

Still at the age of just 31, Murdoch believes Muirhead, who already has two Olympic medals (she also won bronze in Sochi) and a world title behind her, has confirmed her status at the top of her sport.

“She could be one of the greatest ever,” said Murdoch. “She’s been around so long, she’s won a World title and Europeans, and she’s one of the most dedicated athletes you’ll ever see.

“Never a day goes by when she doesn’t commit 100 per cent to training, and if you do that you get your rewards.”

Murdoch paid tribute to the way Muirhead and her team battled adversity, from failing to secure initial qualification to teetering on the brink of elimination after the round-robin phase.

“Sometimes it’s written in the stars,” Murdoch added. “It was a perfect performance. The composure and calmness was evident today and you could just see the girls so relaxed, and I think that was the key.”

Murdoch admitted the team had some “tough conversations” after their disappointing display at the world championships, where, competing as Scotland, they finished in eighth place after the group stage and were eliminated.

“They were tough and they needed to be tough,” said Murdoch. “It was probably the most important thing we’ve ever done, because what’s come of it is ultimately this.

“Credit has to go to them for picking themselves up, coming out and working hard to get this gold.”

Rhona Howie, who led Great Britain’s last gold medal-winning curling team in 2002, paid tribute to Muirhead’s fierce determination that drove her to Olympic success at the fourth time of asking.

“Twenty years has been long enough,” said Howie. “It was emotional. Eve is very driven and very determined.”