The 2022 Olympic Winter Games officially kick off today in Beijing, China. From February 4 to 20. Nearly 2,900 athletes from over 90 countries will participate, that includes some from this province.
Team Gushue earned the right to represent Canada in men’s curling by winning the Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials this past November. The team consists of Brad Gushue (skip) Mark Nichols (third), Brett Gallant (second), Geoff Walker (lead), and alternate Marc Kennedy, along with coaches Jules Owchar and Jeff Thomas.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s first appearance at the Olympics was in 1904, when Robert Fowler of Trinity Bay competed as a runner in the Summer Games.
Figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond, of Marystown, won Gold in the mixed team event, along with a Bronze medal in the women’s singles event at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, and also captured a Silver medal in the team event at the 2014 Games in Sochi.
This is Gushue’s second trip to the Olympics, having captured Gold in Torino in 2006. He says things are “night and day” this time around, thanks in large part to the pandemic. However, he hopes family and friends can still get together in some capacity for viewing parties.
Team Gushue faces Denmark in their first game on February 9.
