In the world of curling, where precision meets strategy, Chloe McNaughton is one of England's most promising young talents. As a national champion in both Junior Mixed Doubles and Mixed 4's, Chloe has already achieved remarkable success. Now, in our latest blog, Chloe shares insights into her training regimen, the people who’ve inspired her, and how the support from Live Active has been instrumental in her development.

What inspired you to start playing curling? 

Seeing the Scottish Championships on TV and knowing that they were held at the local rink, Dewars Centre, only about 5 minutes away.

Who is your biggest inspiration in the world of sport and why?

It would probably be Eve Muirhead as I would constantly go down to the rink and see her training. Despite winning the gold medal, she was still down at the local rink two weeks later playing with her family.

What are some of the most important skills you need to excel at curling?

You need to have good communication and teamwork as it is a team sport, and you all need to talk to each other to be able to make the shots you want.

What is your training regimen like, and how do you balance it with other commitments?

I do a training session with my junior club once a week and then train by myself once or twice a week. I also try meet up with my mixed doubles partner at least once a month as we live quite far from each other.

What is your biggest accomplishment as an athlete so far?

It would either have to be winning two national titles in one season (Junior Mixed Doubles and Mixed 4’s) or qualifying to play for England in the first ever World Junior Mixed Doubles.

What are some of the biggest competitions or tournaments in curling this year, and what are your goals for participating in them?

As the season has just ended for me the biggest competition I have would be the English Junior Mixed Doubles where we would be aiming to retain our title and go back to Canada for the World Juniors.

How do you handle setbacks or challenges in your athletic endeavours? 

Usually, you take an hour or two to think about it and be sad and then usually you get over it as when the season has started there is always some curling to do whether it be an important competition or a simple club game at your local rink.

Are there any rituals or routines you follow before competitions to get you in the right mindset?

Usually in curling you play at least 4 or 5 games per competition, so you would always sit down with your team and coach to discuss your goals for the game and what kind of tactic you feel would work best for the team you play against (You rarely ever play against a team you haven’t seen whether it be on YouTube or in person). Then you always warm up with your team. I don’t really do anything specific by myself as you almost always get ready with your team.

In what ways has the support from Live Active helped your development as an athlete?

Due to the ice rink being in a Live Active building I have always been around Live Active. When I first started it was Live Active coaches that taught me, and they also helped me get involved with competitions. Then I started the Emerging Athlete Programme which has helped me get stronger and helped with different aspects of the sport. Most recently, Live Active put me through my Level One Coaching Qualification so that I could start coaching some of the newer curlers.

Can you describe a moment or achievement in your athletic career so far that you attribute to the support and training you’ve received from the Emerging Athlete Programme?

There isn’t a specific moment, but I have definitely found that I can get lower down in my slide which has helped me be more accurate. I have also been able to improve my arm strength which makes my sweeping more effective.

What advice would you give to other young athletes who are just starting out in curling?

Just because you have been told to do things a certain way doesn’t mean you have to. I’m always trying different stuff with my slide to see what works and what doesn’t work. Also, always say yes to sport related opportunities as you never know what benefits will come out of it.

What is your favourite sports quote?

“Enjoy the butterflies” - Daniel Ricciardo. It reminds me to not be too nervous especially when I am on the ice as it can affect your playing ability.

What social media platforms are you on so people can follow your journey?

My Instagram is @Chloe_mcnaughton and I always tag my current teams page which is usually updated more often.