Robyn Munro and Orrin Carson have claimed a special place in history as the first ever winners of a mixed doubles curling gold medal at the World University Games after beating Germany 10-8 in the final in Torino.
It was a fitting end to a fine campaign as they justified their status as top seeds following the round-robin qualifying section, by defeating the only one of the other seven competing nations that had previously beaten them. 
The GB Students pairing saved their very best form for medals day as they eased past hosts Italy 6-3 in the semi final, before seizing on a crucial error by the Germans in the sixth end of the final to move into a decisive 10-6 lead after Kim Sutor took out her team’s only stone in the house with her final delivery, allowing Munro to draw for a four.
While Germany then scored two using their powerplay at the seventh end, that meant Munro and Carson had the benefit of being able to play the final end with their own powerplay, making it almost impossible for their opponents to generate the necessary steal of two.
“It’s amazing,” said Munro, who missed out on a medal at WUGS two years ago when the GB women’s team was beaten in the third place play-off.
“I absolutely love this event and being a student athlete is never easy, but a huge win like this reminds you that it is so worth it and rewarding and yes we definitely rose to the pressure of the medals day.”
The way they performed capped an extraordinary couple of days for the 21-year-old from Stranraer who had carried the flag for GB Students at the previous evening’s Opening Ceremony, but clearly did not allow the excitement of that honour to be any sort of distraction.
“We’ve both been exposed to that kind of environment before with medal pressure,” said Munro, who was a World Junior Championship winner in the women’s event two years ago.
“Carrying the flag was a huge honour and the Opening Ceremony was just as amazing if not even more amazing than we anticipated.
“It just reminded me to soak up the experience and that’s what we did today.
“We just had fun out there and we’re coming home with gold medals, so what more could you want.
“It’s a huge honour to win the first ever World University Mixed Doubles title and have our names written in history.
“I’m really proud of the couple of days that we’ve had and I can’t wait to soak up the rest of the event while cheering on the other GB teams.”
Carson echoed those sentiments having also had a momentous start to 2025, leading his all-teenage team to their first ever title on the men’s tour just a week earlier at The Mercure Perth Masters.
“I picked up great momentum in Perth and carried that into this week and I couldn’t be happier,” said the 19-year-old from Dumfries.
“We’ll definitely enjoy it over the next few days and we’ll soak up the experience of the World University Games.”
Results:
Saturday 11 January 
MD1
GB – USA 7-6
MD2
GB – Switzerland 8-5
Sunday 12 January
MD3
GB – Germany 4-10
MD4
GB – Canada 7-6
MD5
GB – Italy 9-3
Monday 13 January
MD6
GB – Japan 9-6 Qualified
MD7
GB – Norway 7-5
Tuesday 14 January
08.00 Semi Final 1 Canada – Germany 5-7
12.00 Semi Final 2 GB – Italy 6-3
16.00 Bronze Medal Game Italy – Canada 3-9
19.00 Gold Medal Game GB – Germany 10-8
GB Students Mixed Doubles Team
Robyn Munro (University of Strathclyde)
Orrin Carson (Dumfries and Galloway College)
Mixed Doubles Coach: Scott Andrews
Head Coach: Nancy Smith
Please click here for results.
Image: Jack Hodgetts
