A gold medal won by the British curling team at the first Winter Olympics in 1924 has gone on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The medal, which was awarded to skip Thomas Murray, is part of a new exhibition that celebrates Scotland’s contribution to winter sports.
A long-awaited recognition
The British curling team, which consisted of Thomas Murray, his brother-in-law Laurence Jackson, Robin Welsh and Willie Jackson, claimed the gold medal at the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in January 1924. However, at the time, the event was not officially recognized as an Olympic competition, but rather as a “winter sports week” that was held alongside the Summer Olympics in Paris.
It was not until 2006 that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) retroactively awarded the status of the first Winter Olympics to the Chamonix games, and confirmed the curling results as official. The British team, which had already returned home by the time the medals were presented, received their gold medals by post. Thomas Murray’s medal was donated to the museum by his family in 2019.
A proud legacy for Scottish curling
Curling is one of the oldest sports in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. The sport was popularized by Scottish immigrants in Canada, where it became a national pastime. Curling is also one of the most successful sports for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics, with 10 medals in total, including five golds.
The exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland showcases the history and achievements of Scottish curlers, as well as other winter sports such as skiing, skating and ice hockey. It features objects, photographs and stories from some of the most prominent Scottish athletes, such as Rhona Martin, who led the British women’s curling team to gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and Eve Muirhead, who won bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
A celebration of winter sports culture
The exhibition, titled “Snow Business: Scotland and the Winter Olympics”, also explores the social and cultural aspects of winter sports, such as the fashion, equipment and entertainment that have evolved over the years. It highlights the role of Scotland as a destination for winter sports enthusiasts, with its mountains, ski resorts and ice rinks.
The exhibition, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, runs from 12 November 2023 to 13 March 2024. It is part of the museum’s programme of events to mark the centenary of the first Winter Olympics, as well as the upcoming 2024 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
