On This Day in Olympic Curling: Feb 18

PYEONGCHANG 2018

This date will live in infamy for curling fans, as news of a positive ‘A’ sample doping test – and later the ‘B’ sample – was confirmed.  

With the eyes of a suspicious world already glaring at his countrymen, an Olympic Athlete of Russia – labelled OAR and competing with no Russian logos, colours or flags as punishment for years of systemic state-controlled drug cheating (as methodically explained in previous issues) – got caught after winning bronze in mixed doubles curling.

The medal was stripped, his accreditation revoked and he and his teammate – also his wife – were sent home.

It was massive blow to Russian attempts to mollify the world following the devastating truths behind Russia’s state-sanctioned mass doping scandal during Sochi 2014.

As a result, the Norwegian team of Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedgrotten – who had lost the bronze medal match to the OAR pair – flew back to Korea to receive their medals at the Olympic Plaza.

This was, it must be said, a solid gesture from the International Olympic Committee. In most recent cases, medals awarded (or “reallocated”) following doping violations have taken place months or even years later.

Another first for the sporting world, and curling was the sport concerned.

One wonders, these days, how double-touched stones and foul language – resulting in a warning for the latter – compares to an Olympic curling doping violation, banishment and multi-year suspension.

BEIJING 2022

Brad Gushue and his Canadian men’s team recovered from their devastating semifinal loss to Sweden by defeating USA’s defending Olympic champions – skipped by John Shuster – 8-5 to win the bronze medal.

It was the second Olympic medal for Gushue and third Mark Nichols following their gold at Torino 2006.

 The Americans led 2-0 and 4-3 before Canada put five unanswered points on the scoreboard.

The women’s semifinals were, in a word, bonkers.

First, Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa – bronze medallists at PyeongChang 2018 – upset Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni by an 8-6 count.

Japan snapped a huge four-ender on the Swiss in the fifth end and, despite taking three in the seventh, Tirinzoni couldn’t get close enough.

As the Japanese went wild, defending champions Sweden – skipped byAnna Hasselborg – were engaged in an awesome battle with Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead.

The slugfest only ended at 12-11, with both squads scoring a four-ender, a three-ender and a deuce.

Seven total points were scored in the first two ends.

Madness. But what a sight.

TORINO 2006

In a blogpost titled Italians Stun Curling World, we described the sight of hosts Italy – skipped by a young Joel Retornaz – defeating Canada’s Russ Howard/Brad Gushue combo 7-6 in an extra-end. It was ear-splitting excitement for the home team’s fans.

A second post on that day summarized the women’s draws, with Japan’s Ayumi Onodero shocking Canada’s Shannon Kleibrink.

Wait, stop the presses – our man on the scene explained why it actually wasn’t such a shocker.

The post was published during the first half of the next men’s draw, and the raucous Italian fans were "screaming and chanting as if it was a soccer match… even booing Great Britain’s Rhona Martin and bursting balloons during her delivery in GBR’s match against Italy’s Diana Gaspari.”

Wow. Balloons!

Hey, we just noticed we didn’t give you the big reveal regarding the second crazy thing that happened back on Feb. 16 in lovely Pinerolo.

Christine Keshen, Canada’s women’s lead, slept in and missed the first two ends of a game.

Honest.

She made it for end number three, and only two media outlets – us, The Curling News, and CanWest (now Postmedia) – even noticed.

The full story we posted is here, but here are a couple of good quotes for those who decline to click…

Keshen: Honestly, I fell asleep. Fell asleep, didn’t set an alarm and thought somebody would wake me up, but it just didn’t happen (someone tried).

Teammate: It’s kind of like losing your kid in the mall. You’re happy they’re there, but you’re kind of mad at them for leaving.

SOCHI 2014

David Murdoch’s Great Britain won a stunning tiebreaker over Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud 6-5, by scoring a winning deuce on a desperation runback.

It was quite an all-or-nothing throw, and quite the result.

A despondent Ulsrud was the last to leave the ice surface, many minutes after all athletes and officials had left.

The men’s and women’s semifinals were set for the following day.

Meanwhile, Mike McEwen, husband of Canadian women’s team lead Dawn McEwen, wasn’t in Sochi just to cheer for the red and white.

McEwen was also blogging for ye olde The Curling News.

Here’s his entry from 12 years ago today, Sochi 2014: Outside the Ice Cube.

It’s a fine piece of writing, giving us yet another peek behind-the-scenes at an Olympic Winter Games.