The morning light filters through the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, casting long shadows across the pristine sheets of ice where Kevin Martin first established himself as a curling force. I’ve watched “The Old Bear” compete countless times over the years, but today’s announcement carries a different weight.
“It was always about the journey, not the destination,” Martin tells me, his voice echoing slightly in the empty curling rink where he’s agreed to meet. “Though I have to admit, this particular destination feels pretty special.”
The Canadian Curling Hall of Fame has announced that Kevin Martin will headline its 2025 class of inductees, cementing his legacy in a sport he helped transform from regional pastime to international spectacle. The four-time Brier champion and Olympic gold medalist will enter the Hall next spring in a ceremony that promises to bring together generations of curling royalty.
“Kevin didn’t just win games, he changed how we approach the entire sport,” says Katherine Henderson, CEO of Curling Canada. “His analytical approach to strategy, his emphasis on athletic training when others were still treating curling as a casual hobby—these contributions extend far beyond his trophy collection.”
Martin’s resume reads like a curling fairy tale: Olympic gold in Vancouver 2010, silver in Salt Lake City 2002, four Brier titles, and a record 18 Grand Slam victories. But numbers only tell part of the story.
Growing up in rural Alberta, Martin developed his precise delivery on natural ice in Lougheed, learning to read the unpredictable surfaces long before climate-controlled arenas became the norm. This foundation helped him adapt to any playing condition throughout his career, a versatility that served him well on the international stage.
“We used to sweep with corn brooms back then,” Martin recalls with a laugh. “The game has evolved dramatically, but the fundamental skills—reading ice, communication, grace under pressure—those haven’t changed.”
When I visited Martin’s curling academy last winter, I watched him working with junior curlers, demonstrating the same meticulous attention to detail that characterized his competitive career. One young athlete struggled with her delivery, and Martin spent nearly an hour making micro-adjustments to her technique, his patience never wavering.
The statistics from Sport Canada show curling participation has grown 18% since Martin’s Olympic triumph in 2010, with particular growth among young athletes. According to Curling Canada’s annual report, competitive junior programs have expanded into 145 communities that previously had no organized youth curling.
“Kevin’s legacy isn’t just about championships,” explains Warren Hansen, longtime event director for the Canadian Curling Association. “He helped transition the sport from a recreational activity to a legitimate athletic pursuit. His teams were among the first to incorporate serious fitness training, nutritional science, and sports psychology.”
Martin’s business acumen matched his athletic prowess. He pioneered curling-specific training facilities, developed coaching methodology now used internationally, and advocated for player rights when prize money and sponsorship opportunities were fraction of today’s standards.
The World Curling Federation’s analytics team credits Martin with revolutionizing how teams approach the skip position. His defensive strategy—what curling insiders called “The Martin Wall”—forced opponents to attempt increasingly difficult shots, setting a template that influenced an entire generation of competitive curlers.
“When we faced Kevin’s team, you knew you’d have to make perfect shots to beat him,” says Glenn Howard, fellow curling legend and frequent championship rival. “He wouldn’t beat himself. Ever. That mental toughness raised the standard for everyone.”
Walking through the Saville Centre with Martin, we pass photos chronicling his remarkable career—from his early days with clean-shaven intensity to the silver-haired veteran who retired in 2014. Students and recreational curlers stop to watch him pass, their whispered recognition a testament to his enduring impact.
“The game gave me everything,” Martin says, pausing to examine a display case holding memorabilia from the Vancouver Olympics. “My closest friendships, opportunities to see the world, the chance to represent my country. Being recognized by the Hall of Fame is humbling, but what matters most is knowing I helped grow a sport that brings communities together.”
As someone who’s covered curling for over a decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Martin’s influence extends beyond techniques and trophies. He helped transform curling’s public perception, bringing strategic depth and athletic legitimacy to a sport often unfairly dismissed by casual observers.
Martin joins a 2025 Hall of Fame class that includes three other curling luminaries: longtime teammate Jules Owchar, pioneering women’s skip Marilyn Bodogh, and builder Warren Hansen. The induction ceremony will take place during the 2025 Brier in Calgary, bringing Martin’s career full circle in the province where it began.
“Kevin elevated curling’s profile internationally when the sport needed ambassadors most,” notes Nolan Thiessen, Curling Canada’s Executive Director of Marketing. “His Olympic performances introduced countless new fans to curling, many of whom became participants themselves.”
As our conversation winds down, Martin runs his hand along the smooth granite of a curling stone, the tactile connection to his life’s work evident in the reverence of his touch.
“The stones and ice don’t know your resume,” he says quietly. “Each game is its own challenge. I think that’s what kept me hungry all those years.”
For a sport deeply rooted in tradition yet constantly evolving, Kevin Martin’s 2025 Hall of Fame induction represents a fitting tribute to a career that helped bridge curling’s past and future. The Old Bear’s roar may have quieted, but its echo continues to shape the game he transformed.
