The Winter Olympics 2022 are now well underway, following an eye-catching opening ceremony earlier this month. Organisers in China have pulled out all the stops to put on a show, and Team Canada entered with high hopes. They hope to clear up on the nations favourite games while adding gold to some of the newer additions to the games. Beijing 2022 carries the slogan “joyful rendezvous upon pure ice and snow, but there was early heartbreak for Canadian curling.
A sport the nation has excelled at over the years, more glory days were expected in China this winter, but things haven’t gone to plan so far, and there’s now pressure on the remaining players to raise their game. The Canadian mixed doubles team suffered an early and surprise exit, sent sliding out of the tournament by the minnows of Italy.
That loss shocked Canadian sports betting enthusiasts and bookies who had Canada priced as hot favourites, and they were backed off the boards. The odds and volume of bets placed on Canada suggested they were untouchable. Still, as any experienced sports fan or sports bettor already knows, it’s dangerous to write off any team or athlete, especially at this level. A Canada vs Norway final was the betting favourite but what we are left with following Canada’s untimely defeat is an Italy v Norway gold medal match.
Italy an unlikely contender
Italian pair Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner aren’t exactly big names in the world of competitive curling, and not many sports fans would associate Italy with success on the ice. The Italian national team are the current European soccer champions, having beaten England on penalties in the final last summer. The nation has also produced many exceptional boxers, jockeys, and headline acts on the tennis court. But curling, not exactly. Well, not until now.
The Italian mixed doubles team defeated Canada against all the odds this week, scoring a sensational 8-7 win. Canada entered as the current champions, having won gold at the previous winter Olympics. Still, they were beaten by the tightest of margins by an opponent that refused to give up and roll over for a bigger name on the ice. John Morris and Rachel Homan fell millimetres short after losing an all or nothing extra end.
Morris hints at retirement
In an emotional exchange, Morris spoke to the national press of the hurt suffered from that loss and his plans for taking early retirement. Emotions were raw at the time of the interview, and there will be many with a passion for Canadian curling that will hope he reconsiders. But the 43-year-old, who won gold in this event in 2018 when partnered with Kaitlyn Lawes, labelled it the toughest loss of his career.
Speaking of his honour wearing the maple leaf, a disappointed Morris told fans he and his partner played with all their hearts in Beijing. He is sure Homan has a big future in the sport, but he believes he is close to handing in his equipment, retiring and allowing the next generation of Canadian curling players to breakthrough.
Men’s team have a clear view
There was pain in the mixed doubles, but Canada’s men’s curling team now have a clear sight of the gold medal if they can hold their form heading into a challenging week. In game one of their quest to win the gold, Canada will face off against an ambitious Danish team, and that’s the perfect way to begin, especially if the players live up to expectations and land the desired result. Fans of Canada know they can’t take their opponent’s lightly but will be encouraged by Denmark being the competition’s second lowest-ranked team.
The second match pairs them with Norway, who boast the experience and talent of Torger Nergard, who has appeared at every winter Olympics since 2002, winning gold in Salt Lake City and silver in Vancouver. It’s a match Canada is expected to win, but they will be pushed hard.
That’s when things step up a gear as Canada play Switzerland in game three, then Sweden in their fourth outing. There will be a battle on the ice in game five against the United States. Then game six is Italy. China, ROC and the best for last will be the match with Great Britain.
