Curling is a Competitive Sport whose playing nature resembles Bowls, Shuffleboard, and Boules. In this game, players drift stones on an ice sheet to send them to a targeted area lying in four concentric circles.
The gameplay of Curling is too straightforward, as it has two teams, each with four players. Every squad member slides two stones toward the closest section of the marked area, and the side whose maximum number of stones rests nearest to the center is the winner.
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Interestingly, each turn in Curling involves a total of three players. One who slides the stone and two others, known as curls with brooms in their hands, accompany the stone by sweeping in front of it to manage its rotation by decreasing friction and ensuring a Long, Straight, and Precise Journey of the Stone.
So, you may say that Curling is a pure teamwork sport that demands finesse, determination, and strategy from all members to provide the best results. Moreover, a degree of experience also goes into getting higher achievements.
Similar to any other Historical Sport, the ancient methods of playing curling were not identical to those visible in the modern era’s competitions. The game originated in Scotland and then gradually expanded across Europe.
During the initial times, the Scottish played Curling in teams along the frozen lakes during winter. The stones used were in smaller sizes and swept with corn-made bristles. The sport also has been given a nickname, the Roaring Game.
It was until the 1800s that a few Curling Clubs started to establish across the countryside of Scotland. Meanwhile, Immigrants from Europe who settled in North America also took this game along with them, causing its spread.
During the earlier 1900s, Curling started to evolve across Europe, North America, and Canada. In the 1924 Olympics, the first Curling Competition was held, and it has continued to this day without missing a single season.
Best Men’s Curlers of all Time
Soon after recognizing Internationally, Curling started to get the most furnished form it has today. Among other notable changes, the smaller stones are eventually replaced with large-sized granite stones with handles fitted on top for easy lifting, while the playing avenues have also shifted from Frozen Lakes to artificial indoor ice or curling sheets.
Of course, the addition of Curling in the Olympics has attracted worldwide Athletes who entered the game to win Gold and other Honors for their nations. Here is the list of Best Men’s Curlers of all Time. Notably, we’ve short-listed players for their International Appearances and Achievements in various Tournaments.
| Sr.No | Athlete Name | Country |
| 1 | Kevin Martin | Canadian |
| 2 | Ernie Richardson | Canadian |
| 3 | Marc Kennedy | Canadian |
| 4 | John Shuster | United States |
| 5 | John Morris | Canadian |
| 6 | Glenn Howard | Canadian |
| 7 | Russ Howard | Canadian |
| 8 | Oskar Eriksson | Swedish |
| 9 | Rasmus Wrana | Swedish |
Kevin Martin
- Won Two Olympic Medals – Gold in 2010 & Silver in 20022
- Winner of 18 Grand Slam Victories
- Record Holder of Most Olympic Wins by a Skip (20)
Kevin Martin, known as The Old Bear or K-Mart, is regarded as the Most Successful Curler in Canada and the greatest of all time due to his incomparable fleet of accolades and medals he earned for winning various International Tournaments.
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During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Martin captained Team Canada and went on to win the Gold Medal without losing a single game, becoming the first to accomplish this record in 86 years.
Notably, he also seized four Championships at Brier, including Canada’s annual Men’s Curling Championship. He is the only Canadian winning back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009. Meanwhile, his Olympics Resume is decorated with one Gold and one Silver Medal, and he also keeps the record for the most Olympic Wins by a Skip.
Ernie Richardson
- Won Four World Championships in 1959, 1960, 1962 and 1963
- Inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1971
- In 1959, he was honored for skippering the youngest team even to win the Canadian Brier
Ernie Richardson is among those few Curlers who were untouchables during the peak of their careers. It is worth mentioning that Richardson has spent most of his pro-career teaming up with his brother Garnet Richardson and cousins Arnold and Wes Richardson.
During his reign of dominance, Richardson played as the Skip. His pro skills assisted his team in winning the world championships in 1959, 1960, and 1962. In 1963, though his team had the best chance to win another title, Wes’ back troubles prevented them from competing.
For upcoming years, Richardson participated in multiple tournaments with Mel Perry, the replacement for his cousin, and won a few more titles. Sadly, he missed the chance to compete in the Olympics because the event didn’t take place during his playing career.
Nevertheless, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and awarded the Order of Canada in 1978 in recognition of his unrivaled contributions to the growth of curling.
Marc Kennedy
- Won Olympic Gold Medal in 2010 and Bronze Medal in 2022
- Winner of Three World Championships – Won 2 Gold Medals in 2008 & 2016 and one Silver in 2009
- Champion of 12 Grand Slams
For every pro player, there is a second man who assisted him in achieving greatness. In the case of Kavin Martin, it was Mark Kennedy. Kennedy was Martin’s squad member when their team won consecutive Canadian Briers in 2008-2009.
Notably, the Kennedy and Kevin team also won the first gold medal for their nation at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Perhaps, Kennedy was the Curler of unmatched class for his immense skills and talent.
As a result of his intense practice and hard work, Kennedy was equally good for playing as the Draw or the big Weight Hit while also being considered a competitive sweeper. During pro-career, he competed in three Olympic Games.
John Shuster
- Two Time Olympic Medalist – One Gold in 2018 & One Bronze in 2006
- Winner of USA Curling Team for years – 2006, 2016, 2018, 2019
- Named USA Curling Male Athlete of the Year in 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019
The glittering career of John Shuster includes four Olympics appearances for the United States. Interestingly, Shuster only won 1 bronze medal in the 2010 Olympics off his first three attempts at the Olympics.
In 2019, Shuster outperformed all expectations and bagged the first Olympic Medal after leading his team to a better of 10-7 against number-one-ranked Sweden. Moreover, he was named the USA Curling Male Athlete of the Year in 2009, 2015, 2018, and 2019.
It’s important to note that Shuster picked Curling as a Profession from a young age, as he won his first State High School Curling Championships in 1999, followed by two title wins at the State Junior Championships in 2002 and 2004.
John Morris
- Won Canadian Brier Championship in 2008 and 2009
- Seized Two Olympic Gold Medals in 2010 and 2018
- Winner of 11 Grand Slams
To your surprise, John Morris is another accomplished Curler hailing from Kevin Martin’s immortal team during the late 2000s. As an instance of sportsmanship, Morris participated in the 2009 Canadian Brier with a broken finger and managed to win MVP of the tournament.
Morris is the only Canadian Curler, winning two Olympics Gold for the National Side, while he teamed up with Kaitlyn Lawes during the 2018 Olympics, seizing another Mixed Doubles Gold at PyeongChang.
During a highly delighted professional career, Morris won two Canadian Bier Champions in 2008 and 2009. However, the most astonishing part of his journey is winning the eleven grand slams.
Glenn Howard
- Won 17 Ontario Championships
- 16 Grand Slam Victories
- Winner of Four World Championships in 1987, 1993, 2007 and 2012
Glenn Howard started his pro career playing behind his brother, Russ Howard. The duo started impressively, winning the 1987 and 1993 Championship Briers while bagging the opening Players’ Championship in 1993.
However, Glenn created a separate team in 2000 and sky-rocketed with utmost success. With team members including Brent Laing and Craig Savill, Howard earned four consecutive Master Champions from 2006-2009.
In 2008, Glenn Howard, while leading the team, won the Players’ Championship and the 2009 Canadian Open. In 2007, they also seized the World Championship. It is worth noticing that Howard is the only Curler who won gold medals in all World Championship appearances, but he never participated in Winter Olympics.
Russ Howard
- Won Gold Medal in 2006 Olympics
- Time-Time Gold Medalist in Brier – 1987 and 1993
- Winner of Two Gold Medals in World Championships – 1987 and 1993
The Olympic Gold Medalist, Russ Howard, played along with his Brother Glenn. The duo bagged several World Championships and prime International Tournaments, including two Brier Championships in 1987 and 1993.
Russ holds the record of playing Briers Championships (14) and Brier Matches (174), highest by numbers than any other International Curler. At the peak of his career, he won two World Championships in 1987 and 1993.
In addition to several International Victories, Russ has also proved himself at the most prestigious Olympics by winning the gold medal with Canadian National Team at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games.
Oskar Eriksson
- Won Four Olympic Medals
- Six Victories in Curling Championships
- Winner of Seven European Curling Championships
Oskar Eriksson is densely popular for his great accomplishments during the Olympics. In addition to an array of Championship accolades, he is the only curler winning four Gold Medals in the Olympics history.
His comprehensive Olympics record of Eriksson includes a gold medal in 2022, along with a sliver team medal in 2018 and a bronze team medal in 2014. Moreover, he also won a Bronze in Mixed Doubles in 2022, making him the most successful curler of all time.
The other achievements of Oskar Eriksson comprise six World Curling Champions and seven European Curling Champions. As a matter of fact, he is the most decorated in every aspect of Curling.
Rasmus Wrana
- Won Two Olympic Medals – One Gold & One Silver
- Seized Gold Medals in Four World Championships
- Three-Time European Championship Gold Medalist
The Swedish Curl Rasmus Wrana is regarded as a valuable asset in the realm of Curling. He had tasted intense success at Domestic and International Competitions, including a few memorable Medal winning victories in the Olympics.
At International competitions, he won four gold medals in the World Curling Champions and three in European Championships. Moreover, he also bagged a Gold Medal in Beijing in the 2022 Olympics.
The other acknowledgeable achievements of Wrana include a Silver Medal at the Pyeongchang Games in 208 and champion trophies in three grand slam events. In 2016, he also won the Master and Tour Challenge.
People also Ask
Q: Who is the Oldest Men’s Curler to win an Olympic Gold Medal?
A: To your surprise, Robin Welsh is the Oldest Curler to win the Gold Medal at the Olympics. Welsh bagged the Gold at 54 while representing Great Britain at the pioneer Winter Olympics Games in 1924, and the record still stands since.
Q: Who is the Best Curler Team in the World?
A: The International Curler Teams get ranked by the World Curling Federation, based on their points, success ratio, and international appearances. Currently, Switzerland is the world’s number one Curling team with 75.540 points, followed by Sweden and Korea, with 75.045 and 61.061 points, respectively.
Q: How much do Professional Curlers Earn?
A: The earnings of Professional Curlers depend on multiple factors, such as their International Appearances, Sponsorship, and Endorsement Deals. Nevertheless, an average professional curler earns around $30,000 to $40,000 anum. In addition to their base pay, curlers that compete in seasons receive additional compensation.