Kevin Martin Retires – Flagstaff’s Curling Legend goes out with a final Grand Slam victory
Olympic Gold Medal-winning curler Kevin Martin has officially retired.
Martin made the announcement Friday, April 18, and announced that he will be joining Sportsnet as a broadcast analyst.
Martin started his career with a Canadian Junior Curling championship in 1985.
A four-time Brier Champ, Martin’s team took the gold medal in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Silver in the 2002 Salt Lake City games, and he won the World Curling Championship in 2008.
Martin finished his career with one final win, defeating Brad Jacobs 4-3 in the men’s final to win the Player’s Championship in Summerside, PEI this past weekend.
He has won 18 titles, including eight Player’s championships.
The community of Lougheed has watched their home-town boy Martin’s career with pride, celebrating his successes throughout his years in the sport.
Lougheed Deputy Mayor Deb Smith says, “It’s a sad day for curling, we’re going to miss the old Bear.”
The entire village, including students in the Lougheed School, cheered Martin on during the 2010 games, and were thrilled with his win. Martin even visited Lougheed with his Olympic medal.
Then-Mayor Donna Dolany said, “We are very proud of him. Coming from our area, he is definitely an inspiration to our young people to believe in their dreams, and to never give up.”
Martin told CBC that the decision to retire came after the Canadian Olympic trials in December when his team failed to qualify for Sochi.
He said he told his team and his sponsors then that he wasn’t planning to try for another four-year term.
He said, too, that it was really important to him that he wasn’t, “One of those guys that, you know, you’re sliding down the hill there,” explaining that he wanted to go out on a high note.
Smith added, “It’s great to see him step down and make room for the younger curlers coming behind him, too.
“Kevin has done so much for the sport of curling.
“He has promoted curling to the whole world, not just in Canada.”
Martin now shifts gears to broadcasting on Sportsnet as their curling insider and analyst.
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Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
