Holly Wilkie-Milne was seven when she first started to acquaint herself with the ice down at the Dewars Centre.
The main mission as a young kid from Perth was to become competent in the sport - enjoy it of course - and simply reach the status of being a “good” curler.
There would be knowledge of the older generation who shared the same facility. Those who had moved on to play in the Winter Olympics, consolidated their position as legends of the game and been crowned world champions along the way.
That kind of stuff never really crossed the mind of former Perth Academy student Wilkie-Milne.
But any sort of dream she may have held certainly became reality last Saturday morning when, representing Scotland with Team Henderson, she won World Junior Curling Championships gold.
“I started curling at Perth when I was seven and was with the Perth Junior Curling club for years, alongside Laura, my now team-mate,” said Wilkie-Milne (19).
“I remember watching the older kids when I first started - among them was Olympic champion Mili Smith - and hoping that one day I’d turn out to be a good curler too. But having a world title would never have crossed my mind.”
It would be fair to say from Wilkie-Milne’s reaction, both immediately on the ice after the 9-7 triumph over Japan and when quizzed by this reporter, that the achievement of becoming a master of her craft will take a while to sink in.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, even with the medal around my neck,” she laughed.
“Our entire season had built up to this event. To even get to the gold medal match was unreal - but to win and be named World Junior champions is just amazing. I can hardly imagine a better feeling.
“Being named World Junior champion is the biggest accolade in junior curling - and by far one of the best moments of my life.
“We had worked really hard all season to make sure we were the best team we could be, and we just threw absolutely everything we had at the competition.”
The final against Japan was an emotional rollercoaster for anyone tuned in from home or watching in person at the ice rink in Füssen, where family and friends were perched in the stand.
Keeping cool under pressure now comes naturally to Wilkie-Milne - playing across Europe has aided that - although she admits the showdown with Japan was different.
The Scots, at one point, looked certain to be returning home with silver but an inspired ninth end last stone from skip Fay Henderson tied proceedings at 7-7.
Wilkie-Milne said: “The final was nerve wracking from start to finish - especially in the last two ends.
“Fay’s last stone in the ninth to take three was one of the best shots I’ve ever seen and it kept us in the game. It renewed our energy and convinced us we could win.
“It’s a difficult position to be tied going down the last end without hammer, especially against such a good team as Japan. We positioned our last stones as well as we could and just hoped for a miss.”
And so it came down to Japan’s last stone and one very makeable shot that would end any lingering hopes of gold.
As the stone manoeuvred slowly - very slowly - down the ice, Wilkie-Milne was unable to watch. Her back was turned on the action for seconds which felt like hours.
“I couldn’t watch the last stone,” she told the PA. “I thought I was going to be sick.
“Laura gave me running commentary as it came up the sheet. I remember her telling me they were sweeping it all the way. I knew that they were great sweepers and thought she was definitely making this shot.
“Seeing that stone stop short of the house and knowing we had just won was unreal. I was in complete disbelief.
“I completely cried my eyes out when we all came together to hug. I cried happy tears after three of our wins - the last round robin match, the semi-final and the final.
“There’s no feeling like it in the world. I couldn’t help myself.”
It has, of course, been some journey from the early days of Perth Junior Curling Club to lifting the greatest prize the sport can offer at youth level.
But Wilkie-Milne won’t be forgetting everyone who has helped along the way so far, including mum Alay.
“I’ve come full circle and now coach at the Perth Juniors and I really hope that some of the kids I coach will someday experience the same joy and success that curling has brought me,” Wilkie-Milne explained to the PA.
“It was only a few short years ago that I was playing local competitions, with my mum as my coach. I still think of her as my coach to this day - and probably always will.”
