Vancouver (AFP) – Penpix of stars to watch at the February 12-28 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver:

CURLING
Eve Muirhead

Blonde teenager Muirhead is the new face of curling, a sport keen to shed its fusty image as the chosen winter activity of middle-aged, aran sweater-wearers.

Photogenic, a talented musician and golfer, Muirhead even has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on her back in an image a world away from Scottish compatriot Rhona Martin whose ‘stone of destiny’ captured gold for Britain at Salt Lake City in 2002.

At just 19, Muirhead is aware that she could have chosen a different career path and with a handicap of two, the riches of the golf tour were tantalisngly close.

“I’m aware Michelle Wie is about the same age as me. She’s been up there, she’s done it and she’s young,” Muirhead told the Herald newspaper.

“To me you have to be a very good golfer to make it up to the top ranks, but I think I’ve done that in curling and I’m fortunate to have a family that are in it and push me forward.”

She was introduced to curling when she was nine by father Gordon, twice a world silver medallist.

“As soon as I stepped on to the ice I just wanted to go back and back. I wanted more. Dad brought me my first shoes and brush from Canada and from then I was desperate to carry on and now to be a skip for the Olympic team at the age of 19 is great, it’s exciting,” she said.

Muirhead is used to success having led the Scottish team to a successful defence of the world junior title in Sweden two years ago.