On This Day in Olympic Curling History: Feb 12

BEIJING 2022

Canada’s Brad Gushue defeated the defending silver medallists from Sweden skipped by Niklas Edin by a 7-4 count. 

Two sheets over, the team that beat Edin in that gold medal final – John  Shuster’s USA – lost 7-6 to Norway’s Steffen Walstad, the big blow being a steal of two in the sixth end.

On the women’s side, Canada’s Jennifer Jones lost 7-6 to Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg to fall to a 1-2 won/loss record.

The previous day, Jones had lost 8-5 to Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa for her first-ever loss in Olympic completion, having gone undefeated eight years earlier in Sochi. 

The Fujisawa team members considered Jones an idol and hero.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead climbed to 2-2 with a 10-5 victory over USA’s Tabitha Peterson.

PYEONGCHANG 2018

Following Norway’s 9-7 tiebreaker victory over China, the mixed doubles pairing of Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten lost an 8-4 semifinal to Canada.

The team of Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris had finished the round robin in first place at 6-1, and held leads of 2-0 and 5-2 through the match, finally snapping a three-count in the seventh end en route to the victory.

In the other semifinal, Switzerland defeated OAR (Olympic Athletes From Russia) by a 7-5 scoreline. 

The Swiss duo of Jenny Perret and Martin Rios had finished the round robin in second place at 5-2 while Norway, China and OAR all tied at 4-3.

SOCHI 2014

After a loss to Sweden dropped Canada to 1-2, Canada’s Brad Jacobs was feeling down when his team ran into Canadian hockey coach Mike Babcock. 

The only coach to score the “Triple Gold Cup” (Stanley Cup, Olympic championship and world championship), Babcock gave the team an impromptu pep talk.

Jacobs and Co. responded with a 7-4 win over the host Russians, skipped by Andrey Drozdov.

For his part, Edin unexpectedly lost his next match to Denmark’s Rasmus Stjerne.

In women’s session 4 action, canada’s Jennifer Jones defeated the young hotshot of UK curling, Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead.

Jones beat the 23-year-old Scottish skip 9-6 for her third straight win.

SALT LAKE CITY 2002

Canada’s Kevin Martin won his third straight game 9-4 over Finland’s Markku Uusipaavalniemi in Ogden, while Switzerland’s Andreas Schwaller defeated Denmark’s Ulrik Schmidt to sit a game back at 2-0. 

Norway’s Pal Trulsen and Sweden’s Peja Lindholm were both at 1-1.

On the women’s side, Canada’s Kelly Law played all three opening draws and won each game to lead the pack at 3-0. 

Switzerland’s Luzia Ebnoether had a 2-0 record; Great Britain’s Rhona Martin was 1-1 and Sweden’s Elisabet Gustafson trailed at 1-2.

NAGANO 1998 

Canada’s Mike Harris became the first men’s squad to clinch a playoff berth following his team’s fifth and sixth straight victories, 8-3 over Switzerland’s Patrick Huerlimann and 6-3 over Sweden’s Peja Lindholm.

At this point the Canadians were running roughshod over the field, having outscored their opponents 52-22.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Sandra Schmirler won a big matchup with previously unbeaten  Elisabet Gustafson by a 7-5 count.

The win saw both teams tied for first place in the round robin with 5-1 records.