On This Day in Olympic Curling History: Feb 21

SALT LAKE CITY 2002

Just two hours after Canada’s Kelley Law won bronze over USA’s Kari Erickson (9-5), Rhona Martin of Great Britain threw the “Stone Of Destiny” in the 10th end to defeat Luzia Ebnoether and Switzerland by a 4-3 count.

The victory capped a remarkable comeback for the Scots, who had to win a few games to make it to a two-tiebreaker day – which they swept – followed by the semifinal win over Canada.

On the men’s side, Switzerland’s Andreas Schwaller won the bronze medal with a 7-3 victory over Sweden’s Peja Lindholm to set up the big men’s final: Norway’s Pal Trulsen against Canada’s Kevin Martin.

Trulsen, who had downplayed expectations of his team all week by proposing Martin as the man to beat, led 3-0 after four ends before Martin came back to lead 5-4 after eight ends.

After holding Norway to a single in the ninth end, The Edmonton skip faced an open draw to the side of the four-foot against two Norway stones. 

With Trulsen watching, Martin was heavy on release, and his brushers worked their rock to get a tick off the front Norway stone… but it wasn’t enough, as the Canadian stone rolled too far with Norwegian sweeping.

Norway’s men joined Great Britain’ women in winning their first Olympic titles.

SOCHI 2014

One day after the women’s medal games, Sweden’s Niklas Edin and Canada’s Brad Jacobs scored hardware at the Ice Cube.

Edin started the day with a 6-4 win bronze medal win over China’s Liu Rui, whose team had given Jacobs a tussle in the semifinal and acquitted themselves admirably throughout the week.

The gold medal went to Jacobs and his Canadian squad, who trounced Great Britain’s David Murdoch 9-3 in eight ends.  

The day before the final, Team GB coach Soren Grahn made disparaging statements about the Canadian team, which Jacobs has since said helped his team get motivated for the gold medal win.

PYEONGCHANG 2018

Men’s and women’s team round robin play came to an end in Gangneung, Korea.

It marked what would be the final Olympic game for Norway skip Thomas Ulsrud… and he finished a winner, by a 7-2 count over his friendly rival from Sweden, Niklas Edin.

In women’s fours play, Korea’s Kim Eun-jun delighted the home crowds with an 8-1 first-place round robin record, followed closely by Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg at 7-2. 

Great Britain’s Eve Muirhead was next at 6-3 with Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa grabbing the last playoff spot at 5-4.

Among the disappointed also-rans at 4-5 were Canada’s Rachel Homan, Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni and China’s 2009 world champions skipped by Wang Bingyu. 

On the men’s side, a tiebreaker would be required the next day, with Great Britain’s Kyle Smith facing Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz.

VANCOUVER 2010

In women’s session play, Canada’s Cheryl Bernard split her games with a win over USA’s Deb McCormick (9-2) and a loss against China’s 2009 world champion Wang Bingyu.

Sweden’s Anette Norberg also defeated USA by a 9-3 count, while Switzerland’s Mirjam Ott scored a 10-6 victory over Great Britain’s Eve Murihead.