Great Britain’s mixed doubles duo starts strong in Torino

The wait is over for the inaugural mixed doubles curling event at the Torino 2025 World University Games.

On day 2 of the four-day tournament, Sunday 12 January, Great Britain’s Robyn Munro and Orrin Carson showcased their technical abilities and mental determination, closing out a hard-fought 7-6 victory over Canada.

The win improved their record to 3-1 in round-robin play, placing them in a four-way tie atop the leader board alongside Canada, Germany, and host Italy.

A confident start

Munro and Carson had hit the ground running Saturday, opening their campaign with two victories. “Two games and two wins—it gave us a lot of confidence,” Munro said. Reflecting on their record at the halfway mark, she added, “If someone told us we’d be here, we’d absolutely take it.”

Day 2 presented more challenges. “We knew Canada would be strong—they had just come from the Olympic trials,” the 21-year-old said.

Not to mention, the intensified atmosphere with British supporters’ cheers met by loud responses from Canadian fans. After a morning loss to Germany, the Brit team was pleased to regroup and deliver what Munro called a “confident, controlled, and well-executed” performance against one of the top contenders.

Building momentum and team chemistry 

Though it’s their first competition together, Munro and Carson’s chemistry and success on the ice would suggest otherwise. “I’ve grown up watching him and playing against him. I was so excited when I found out he would be my partner,” Robyn Munro said.

Both are Scottish junior champions with a shared background in Scotland’s curling scene, and Munro credits their successful partnership to mutual respect.

She has also experienced the highs and lows of international competition, narrowly missing a bronze medal in the four-person discipline at the last FISU Games in 2023. Motivated by that near miss, she sees a real opportunity now with all top teams having suffered at least one loss.

Next steps

The British duo’s focus is now on maintaining its momentum and securing a playoff spot. “If we can get a couple more wins and lock that in, we’ll be where we want to be,” Munro said.

With three round-robin matches remaining, Munro and Carson face Italy next in a crucial matchup between 3-1 teams that could determine the top spot heading into the medal round. They believe their internal focus, tactical expertise and composure will keep them in contention for the gold. “We knew today was going to be huge, and we’re ready to keep pushing,” Munro added.

In her final year of university, Munro is juggling the demands of elite curling with remarkable grace. Not only is she excelling on the ice, but she’s also set to carry the flag for Great Britain in Monday’s opening ceremony—a first-time honour.

The political sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow also shares her Torino journey on Instagram, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at life at the Games at .

The  take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Mackenzie Barwell, FISU Young Reporter, Canada

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

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