Vicky Drummond slid her final stone into the house with a quiet smile — eight points to one, the match over in just five ends, and a national title back in her hands. Just months after stepping away from competitive curling following Olympic gold in 2022, the 33-year-old intensive care nurse made a stunning return, winning the Scottish Mixed Doubles Championship alongside Euan Kyle in Aberdeen.
This wasn’t just a comeback — it was a statement. Drummond, who had focused on her work saving lives in the ICU, hadn’t lost a step on the ice. Teaming up with Kyle, a bronze medallist at this year’s World Championship, the pair didn’t drop a single match all week. Their precision and chemistry were unmatched, culminating in a dominant victory over Katie McMillan and Archie Hyslop in the final.
While Drummond and Kyle sailed through with a perfect record, the path wasn’t as smooth for others. McMillan and Hyslop had to fight hard just to reach the final, losing two of their six group matches before edging out the previously unbeaten duo Sophie Jackson and Duncan McFadzean in a tense semi-final. Meanwhile, another Olympic legend, Eve Muirhead — Drummond’s former skip and Team GB’s chef de mission at this year’s Games — also returned from retirement for the event. But Muirhead and her partner Bobby Lammie finished fourth in their seven-team group and missed the play-offs.
The win marks more than personal triumph. It shows how athletes can step away, serve in other vital roles — like Drummond’s work on the front lines of healthcare — and still return to the top of their game. Her calm under pressure, honed in hospital wards, may have been just what gave her that extra edge on the ice.
As the crowd cheered and the medals were handed out, Drummond waved to fans, her focus already shifting between two worlds: healing by day, competing by weekend. With form like this, few would bet against her adding more titles — on ice or off.