Howie took over the role in 2010 after previously being the national performance development coach for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club in Edinburgh, which is the governing body of curling in Scotland.

The 47-year-old is most famous for her winning turn at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics when, then known as Rhona Martin, she delivered the last stone - dubbed the Stone of Destiny - to secure victory in the women's gold medal match against Switzerland.

However, earlier this year her gold medal was among £34,000 ($57,300/€41,300) of sports memorabilia stolen from a museum in Dumfries, Scotland.

During her playing career, Howie also represented Scotland at six European Championships and one World Championship, as well as Britain at two Winter Olympic Games.

"It has been a difficult decision for me to leave curling but I am looking forward to some new challenges," she revealed.

"I will be taking some time off over the summer and watching some great sport at the Commonwealth Games.

"I haven't decided what's next but I feel it is the right time to move on."

Rhona Howie has claimed Olympic curling medals as both a player and coach with Great Britain ©AFP/Getty Images



Howie, a graduate of the UK Sport Elite Coach Programme, oversaw a European Championship win for Scotland in 2011 in Moscow, while she also guided them to the World Championship title last year in Latvian capital Riga.

Scotland also claimed two European silvers in 2012 and 2013 before Eve Muirhead skipped a side containing Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton and Lauren Gray to bronze in Sochi.

"Rhona's departure from being the head women's coach from the multi-medal winning curling programme is a tremendous loss to the sport," said chief executive officer of Royal Caledonian Curling Club and British Curling, Bruce Crawford.

"She has put everything into her work, gone the extra mile and kept going to support young and talented athletes.

"Rhona has provided many years of leadership and inspiration to Scottish and British curlers.

"We wish Rhona every success in whatever she chooses to do next."

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