When Brad Gushue announced that the 2025-26 season would be his last, it felt like the end of an era for Canadian curling.
For two decades, he hasn’t just been one of the game’s best — he’s been the standard. And as he prepares to walk away, he’s aiming to do so with one final, golden chapter.
Ever since that unforgettable week in Turin back in 2006, when Gushue skipped Canada to its first Olympic men’s curling gold, he’s been a household name. What followed was a career few can match: multiple Brier titles, world championship medals, and a reputation as one of the sharpest minds ever to step into the hack.
What makes Gushue’s story remarkable isn’t just the trophies. It’s the longevity. Year after year, through lineup changes and an ever-deepening talent pool, he kept finding ways to win. For Newfoundland and Labrador, he became more than an athlete — he became proof that a small province could produce a giant in sport.
Now comes the final pursuit: a shot at Olympic gold in 2026. The symmetry is almost too perfect. To bookend his career with another title in Italy, 20 years after the first, would be the ultimate curtain call. Even if it doesn’t happen, his place among the all-time greats is secure.
Brad Gushue’s retirement won’t just mark the close of a brilliant career. It will remind us what greatness looks like: commitment, consistency, and the ability to inspire everyone who watches.
Whether or not he leaves with another gold medal, he leaves the sport stronger than when he found it. And that’s a legacy no one can sweep away.
