Rhona Martin, who led Scotland's curlers to Olympic gold, told MSPs yesterday there is need for more full-time coaches to bring on talented youngsters.

The gold medallist at Salt Lake City in 2002, who retired from competition last year and now works as a curling coach throughout the UK, told Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee the programme for giving 6000 primary seven children a taster in curling each year is not being followed up with adequate professional coaching.

At present, 95% of coaches at Scotland's 26 curling rinks are volunteers, she said. While Canada has two million curlers, Scotland has only 15,000 club members, and a problem with retaining young interest. A further obstacle is that some headteachers are reluctant to commit to the costs of sending children to rinks.

"We've won all these titles in the last decade, so the sport is doing something right," she said. "My concern is the youngsters. They are the future."