Brad Gushue Announces Final Season, Aiming for Glory in Hometown

Canadian curling icon Brad Gushue has announced that the 2025-26 season will mark his final year in competitive curling. The decision, shared with reporters during a video call on September 18, 2025, comes as Gushue prepares for a season filled with significant emotional weight, particularly with the 2026 Canadian Championships set to take place in his hometown of St. John’s, N.L.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Gushue emphasized the importance of longevity in the sport. “Just the longevity… the fact that we’ve been able to stay at or near the top of the game for such a long time,” he said. Gushue, who is 45 years old, has been a constant presence on the curling scene for over two decades, earning numerous titles and accolades, including an Olympic gold medal at the 2006 Turin Games and a bronze at the 2022 Beijing Games.

In his announcement, Gushue expressed that the decision was “about my family and my team,” indicating a desire to prioritize personal milestones as he approaches retirement. He candidly shared his emotional journey, stating, “I was afraid I was going to cry… It’s been an emotional process, but it’s been phenomenal.”

Gushue’s teammates, Mark Nichols, Brendan Bottcher, and Geoff Walker, were informed of his plans during a recent training camp. Nichols, serving as Gushue’s vice-skip, acknowledged the difficulty of the news but affirmed their support for his decision. “It’s a decision that he had to make himself, and we’re fully supportive,” Nichols noted. He added that the upcoming season would be “full of emotion,” particularly with the Canadian Curling Trials and the Brier taking place in their home province.

After a long wait, Gushue secured his first Canadian men’s title in 2017 with a dramatic walk-off victory in St. John’s. The 2026 edition of the championships will commence on February 27, bringing with it a special significance for Gushue. Additionally, his team has already pre-qualified for the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, scheduled for November 22-30 in Halifax. The winner of these trials will represent Canada at the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

In light of the challenges he faced last season regarding motivation, Gushue hopes that sharing his retirement plans will alleviate some of the pressure he has felt. “My hope is by sharing it with everybody, it’s going to take a burden off me,” he explained. He reported feeling a renewed sense of excitement for the season ahead, stating, “I know I have that drive, and I’m more excited today than I was yesterday about the season.”

Gushue’s team is set to kick off their competitive season next week at the Grand Slam of Curling’s AMJ Masters in London, Ontario. As he embarks on this final chapter, the curling community watches with anticipation, eager to see how the legendary skip will conclude his storied career.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press.