Brad Gushue spent more than two decades as the face of Canadian curling, and his retirement in March 2026 closed the book on one of the most decorated careers the sport has ever seen. From an Olympic gold medal in Turin to a hometown Brier finale in St. John’s, Brad Gushue built a legacy that reaches far beyond the ice. This article covers his age, his family, his career earnings, and everything worth knowing about the Newfoundland icon.
Who Is Brad Gushue?
Bradley Raymond Gushue was born on June 16, 1980, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He picked up curling at age 13 after watching the 1988 Calgary Olympics as a young boy, a moment that set the course for the rest of his life. Within a few years, he was already dominating provincial junior competition, a sign of the sustained excellence that would define his career.
Gushue went on to become the winningest skip in Brier history, playing in 23 editions of Canada’s national men’s curling championship and capturing the title a record-tying six times. He’s also a two-time Olympic medallist, taking gold at the 2006 Turin Games and bronze at the 2022 Beijing Games, along with a World Championship title in 2017.
Brad Gushue’s Age and Career Timeline
As of 2026, Brad Gushue is 45 years old. His career stretched an astonishing 25-plus years at the top level of a physically and mentally demanding sport, a run that few athletes in any discipline manage to sustain.
Here’s a snapshot of the milestones that defined his career:
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Wins first Newfoundland and Labrador junior provincial title at age 15 |
| 2001 | Wins Canadian Juniors and World Junior Championship |
| 2003 | First Brier appearance |
| 2006 | Wins Olympic gold in Turin, Newfoundland’s first-ever Olympic gold |
| 2017 | Wins World Men’s Curling Championship |
| 2018 | Sets record for most Brier wins as a skip |
| 2022 | Wins Olympic bronze in Beijing |
| 2024 | Wins sixth Brier title |
| 2026 | Retires following his final Brier, held in his hometown of St. John’s |
Why His Retirement Stood Out
What made Gushue’s send-off particularly meaningful is where it happened. His final Brier appearance took place in St. John’s in March 2026, the same province where his curling journey began more than three decades earlier. He’d previously said he’d either end his career in defeat at that Brier or sign off at the World Championship, and fittingly, his hometown crowd gave him a standing ovation once his run in the tournament ended.
In his retirement announcement, Gushue was candid about the reasons behind his decision, citing time away from his family as the deciding factor. He noted he’d “missed enough milestones” over the years and didn’t want to miss any more, a sentiment that resonated widely across the curling community given how openly he’d discussed the toll of a demanding travel schedule.
Brad Gushue’s Wife and Family
Brad Gushue’s wife is Krista Tibbo, and the couple married on September 8, 2006, just months after his Olympic gold-medal win in Turin. They have two daughters together, Hayley and Marissa, both of whom have followed their father onto the ice in their own right.
In 2020, Gushue and his then-12-year-old daughter Hayley teamed up at the Newfoundland and Labrador mixed doubles curling championship, making it all the way to the final and taking home silver. The pair repeated a similar success in 2022, giving fans a glimpse of a possible next chapter for the Gushue name in Newfoundland curling.
Gushue has spoken openly about how much his wife carried at home while he travelled for competitions, crediting her with holding the family together through more than a decade of bonspiels, training camps, and international tournaments. In interviews, he’s described his family as his biggest motivation, both for staying in the sport as long as he did and, eventually, for stepping away from it.
A Family Rooted in Newfoundland
Gushue was raised by his parents, Raymond and Maureen, alongside his younger sister, Shelly. Despite countless opportunities to relocate for the sport, he’s remained committed to Newfoundland throughout his career, citing his deep connection to the province and its people as a reason he never seriously considered living anywhere else.
Brad Gushue’s Salary and Net Worth
Estimates of Brad Gushue’s net worth vary depending on the source, generally ranging between $1 million and $5 million. As with most professional curlers, his income has never come from a single, predictable paycheque the way it might for athletes in bigger commercial leagues.
His earnings have come from a mix of sources over the years:
- Tournament winnings — accumulated over more than two decades of Grand Slam, Brier, and World Championship competition
- Sponsorships and endorsements — including a long-running partnership with Asham Curling Supplies, which retired his signature shoe line alongside his retirement
- Business ventures — Gushue co-owns Orangetheory Fitness studios in St. John’s alongside longtime teammate Mark Nichols
- Speaking engagements and media appearances — a natural extension of his profile as one of Canada’s most recognizable curlers
- Book royalties — he co-authored Golden Gushue: A Curling Story following his 2006 Olympic win
It’s worth noting that curling salaries in Canada don’t compare to major professional sports leagues, so much of Gushue’s financial success stems from his business interests and sponsorship deals built over a long, high-profile career rather than tournament prize money alone.
What’s Next for Brad Gushue?
Since announcing his retirement, Gushue has stayed intentionally vague about his next move, though he hasn’t ruled out competing in mixed doubles curling alongside his daughters. Media speculation has floated everything from politics to further business ventures, though Gushue himself has offered no firm confirmation on any specific path.
Given his standing in the province, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take on an ambassador role for curling in Newfoundland and Labrador, an area where he’s already made a massive impact simply by staying local throughout his playing career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Brad Gushue? Brad Gushue was born on June 16, 1980, making him 45 years old as of 2026.
Is Brad Gushue still curling? No. He retired from competitive curling following the 2026 Brier, which was held in his hometown of St. John’s.
Who is Brad Gushue’s wife? His wife is Krista Tibbo. The couple married in September 2006 and has two daughters, Hayley and Marissa.
What is Brad Gushue’s net worth? Estimates place his net worth between $1 million and $5 million, built through tournament earnings, sponsorships, and business ventures including his Orangetheory Fitness franchises.
Final Thoughts
Brad Gushue’s career reflects everything Canadians love about curling: patience, precision, and quiet resilience, sustained over a career that spanned more than 25 years at the top of the sport. From his Olympic gold in Turin to his emotional final Brier on home ice, his story is as much about family and loyalty to Newfoundland as it is about championships. As he steps into this next chapter, curling fans across Canada will be watching closely to see what the province’s greatest-ever athlete does next.
