Three members of Team Mouat have committed to chasing an elusive Olympic curling gold medal after securing consecutive silvers, but Grant Hardie has decided to leave the highly successful rink following nine years as a quartet.

Initially, it was speculated that Hardie, 34, might retire from curling to pursue a career in engineering after their second Olympic final loss in Italy this past February. However, he has chosen to continue as a full-time curler, opting to skip his own team, Team Hardie, which includes April's world bronze medallists Ross Whyte and Euan Kyle, along with Craig Waddell.

Robin Brydone, who also won global bronze in the United States this year, will step in as the third for Team Mouat. Hardie expressed to BBC Sport Scotland, "Obviously, it was a really difficult decision. But I felt, if I was going to carry on, I needed something different, a challenge to get my teeth into and keep me motivated."

Over his illustrious career, Hardie achieved:

• Two Olympic silvers
• Two World Championships
• A couple of European titles
• A record 12 Grand Slam titles

Despite the emotional farewell, team members Bruce Mouat, Bobby Lammie, and cousin Hammy McMillan remain supportive. McMillan humorously noted, "Most curling teams last about four years, but we've lasted nine. And it's been a brilliant nine years, even if it's a sad ending."

Reflecting on their time together, Hardie acknowledged the strong bonds formed, stating, "We had so much success together and so many great memories, so it's hard to walk away from that." He emphasized that he didn't want the next four years to revolve solely around one medal, marking a bittersweet transition for the team.