Hail to the King, baby: Swedish icon Niklas Edin is ending his illustrious international career on a high note.
Edin, who claimed his record-extending eighth world championship as a skip last month, announced Sunday on social media that he has decided to "quit while ahead and have time to explore what else is out there."
The 40-year-old said he plans to remain active in the sport, including "coaching, commentating and hopefully playing in the Rock League."
Edin's trophy case could fill an entire museum. The future Hall of Famer captured an Olympic medal of every colour, winning bronze in 2014, silver in 2018 and gold in 2022.
He earned four Grand Slam of Curling championships, becoming the first non-Canadian men's skip to win a Grand Slam title at the 2016 Masters.
Edin also won eight European Curling Championships and gold medals at the World Junior Curling Championships (2004) and Winter Universiade (2009).
When he wasn't busy winning titles on tour and at international events, Edin also coached teams skipped by Sayaka Yoshimura and Kayla MacMillan.
His men's team finished ninth at this year's Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina and bounced back to take gold at the men's worlds in Ogden, Utah.
Edin then competed in the inaugural season of Rock League in Toronto, helping Typhoon Curling Club reach the final and finishing runners-up to Shield Curling Club.
Injuries and surgeries were concerns over the years, as well as funding issues, but Edin overcame every obstacle and now steps back as one of the greatest curlers in the sport's history.
