Dozens of fans, friends and family members cheered as Team Canada returned to St. John’s with bronze medals around their necks today.
Brad Gushue, Brett Gallant, Mark Nichols and coach Jeff Thomas stepped off the plane to wild cheers following their victory over the United States in the bronze medal curling match last week. Geoff Walker flew on to his home in Alberta.
Emotions were running high as the team made their way through the final checkpoint in the airport to the waiting crowd.
The Olympians were met with hugs and kisses from overjoyed family members, with the children sprinting ahead to be the first to meet their dads.
Emotional moment as the kids get their first hugs @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/59xg8mEDPb
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) February 22, 2022
As the celebration continued, the crowd burst into a rendition of O Canada.
Gushue said his first thought was “oh my God, I’m going to have to cry again.”
He says seeing his family tear up made him tear up, adding it’s been a long 16-year journey to get back top this point.
Some emotional family family members here today @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/kRp84yijuI
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) February 22, 2022
Gushue added he’s thankful for all his family has done and is thankful to everyone that came out to support them.
It’s the Gushue rink’s second Olympic medals, after winning gold in 2006.
