Who is Grant Hardie?

Born on 27 March 1992 in Dumfries, Scotland, Hardie has risen through domestic and international ranks to become one of the most decorated and respected figures on the World Curling Tour.

Early Years and Introduction to Curling

Hardie’s entry into curling began in childhood; he was introduced to the sport by his parents and spent his earliest experiences on the ice at North West Castle in Stranraer during family holidays. This formative exposure, intertwined with Scotland’s rich curling traditions, laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to a sport that is as much about mental finesse as physical precision.

Hardie is not only an athlete but also an academic: he graduated with a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, reflecting a cerebral bent that would later parallel his strategic approach on the curling rink.

Rise to Prominence: From Domestic Ice to the World Stage

Grand Slam and World Successes

Hardie’s breakthrough on the world curling stage is intertwined with Team Bruce Mouat, where he has been a fixture as the third. With Mouat as skip, and front-end players Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan Jr., Hardie helped form a consistent unit that translated Scottish curling excellence into world-class achievement.

The team’s successes are vast:

They have won multiple Grand Slam of Curling titles, totaling 12 victories by the 2025–26 season – including landmark events such as the Grand Slam Players’ Championship (2021 and 2025), Champions Cup (2021), Masters (2021), and Canadian Open (2024).
Team Mouat’s 2025 season was historic: they became the first team to secure four Grand Slam titles in a single season, an unmatched feat that cemented their status at the pinnacle of competitive curling.
In 2025 alone, Hardie and his teammates dominated major events such as the Euro Super Series and the GSOC Tahoe, reinforcing their world-leading consistency.
On the world championship stage, Scotland – with Hardie at third – captured the World Men’s Curling Championship in 2025 with a thrilling 5–4 victory over Switzerland, adding another prestigious accolade to their résumé.

Olympic Glory: Milano Cortina 2026

While World Championships and Grand Slams forged Hardie’s reputation, his role at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina marked the zenith of his competitive journey to date. As a core member of Great Britain’s men’s curling team, Hardie helped deliver results that placed the squad among Olympic medal contenders.

During the men’s tournament:

Team Britain navigated a challenging round-robin phase, ultimately securing a semi-final berth after a dramatic 8–5 victory over Switzerland, a team previously unbeaten at the Games.
Hardie and his teammates then advanced to the gold medal game against Canada, an extraordinary achievement highlighted by disciplined shot-making and championship experience.

The Third’s Role: Hardie’s Strategic Genius

In curling, the third occupies a unique hybrid role: supporting the skip’s strategy while also making critical shots that set up end outcomes. Hardie thrives in this pressure cooker of responsibility.

While the skip typically throws the last stones in an end, the third’s stones influence scoring opportunities and force defensive responses from the opposition. Hardie’s ability to weight stones precisely, execute freezes, hits, and draws with minimal margin for error, and read the ice has earned admiration from teammates and rivals alike.

But beyond physical execution, Hardie’s broader contributions include leadership within the house – relaying observations to the skip, lending perspective during time-critical decisions, and reinforcing team cohesion under duress.

Personal Qualities: Balance, Education, and Perspective

Hardie’s engineering background also mirrors his mindset on the ice. Curling is often described as “chess on ice,” and for someone with Hardie’s analytical training, the sport presents constant puzzles: weighing probabilities, anticipating opponent choices, and balancing risk versus reward in every end.

He has spoken openly about his approach: curling, to him, involves a scientific method of preparation – understanding ice behavior, stone dynamics, and game theory – much like engineering problems that require measured solutions.

Off the ice, Hardie’s interests in golf, football, and skiing suggest a well-rounded personality: athletic, sociable, and always keen to explore movement and competition in different environments.

Legacy, Influence, and the Future

At age 33 in 2026, Hardie sits at a crossroads between seasoned champion and enduring competitor.

Yet Hardie’s influence extends beyond medals. He represents:

A bridge between Scotland’s rich curling heritage and the modern evolution of the sport.
A role model for young athletes juggling academic pursuits with elite sport.
A player whose strategic voice often resonates as loudly as his championship stones.