Olli Rissanen’s World Curling Hall of Fame award © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

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World Curling Media

4 September 2025

Three new inductees join the World Curling Hall of Fame

Induction into the World Curling Hall of Fame is the highest ‘non-playing’ honour awarded by World Curling. In the 2024–2025 season, three new inductees were welcomed into the prestigious group.

The World Curling Hall of Fame recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of curling both on and off the ice and there are two categories of induction:

Curler: Awarded to athletes who have achieved extraordinary distinction and outstanding results and have demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship and character in the sport of curling.
Builder: Awarded to individuals who have accomplished distinguished service and have made major contributions to the development and advancement of international curling.

Inductees

Olli Rissanen (Finland) — Builder

Olli Rissanen was inducted into World Curling’s Hall of Fame at the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 in Lohja, Finland. 

A life-long advocate for the sport, Olli began curling outdoors in 1984 in the Finnish city of Vantaa. He joined the Finnish Curling Association board in 1987 and became President in 1997, serving for 22 years.  

He played an integral part in several landmark events for Finnish curling, including hosting the European Curling Championships in 2001 and the first-ever combined World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and World Senior Curling Championships in 2008. 

In 2006, Olli was team leader of the Finnish men’s team that won Olympic silver in Turin and played a key role in the sports growth during the ensuing ‘curling boom’ in Finland. 

Olli also served as President of the European Curling Federation and was instrumental in establishing a long-standing partnership with the Kisakallio Sports Institute.  

Reflecting on his curling journey, he said at his induction, “At the end of the day you may leave curling, but curling never leaves you.” 

Olli Rissanen with his award at the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

Wayne Middaugh (Canada) — Curler  

Canada’s Wayne Middaugh was one of the most versatile and accomplished curlers in history. He is the only player to win World Men’s Curling Championship gold medals playing in three different positions — a testament to his extraordinary talent.   

He proudly represented his native Ontario at ten different Briers, and Wayne won his first world gold medal in 1993 in Geneva, Switzerland, playing second for Team Russ Howard. Five years later, he would skip Canada’s team to gold at the 1998 World Championship on home ice in Kamloops. His third gold medal was claimed in 2012 in Basel, Switzerland, playing vice-skip and third for Team Glenn Howard. 

He was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2021.  

Wayne Middaugh at the World Men’s Curling Championship 2012

Team Peja Lindholm (Sweden) — Curler 

Representing Sweden, this legendary team of Peja Lindholm, Tomas Nordin, Magnus Swartling and Peter Narup won the world title three times, took gold at the European Championships twice and represented Sweden together at three Olympic Games (1998, 2002, 2006). 

Their first world gold came in Bern, Switzerland in 1997, and they followed that up with victory at the 2001 World Championships, which were also held in Switzerland, in Lausanne. 

They completed their hat-trick of world titles in 2004, on home ice in Gavle. Their first of seven world appearances together came in 1993, and they also won silver medals in 1998 and 2000. 

Their European golds came in 1998 (Flims, Switzerland) and 2001 (Vierumaki, Finland). 

They are the fifth complete team to be inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame. 