By Adam Laskaris
There’s no secret that holding a Winter Olympics can have a massive impact on the growth of new sports within the host country.
Few better know that storyline than Shannon Kleibrink, who skipped the Canadian women to a bronze at Torino 2006, the last Games to take place in Italy. At the time, the sport was in its infancy within the country, with no real national culture or awareness around it.
“I think Italian fans are going to be getting on board a little bit more, and there'll be more and more people travelling from around the world to watch it. So I expect a whole different experience this year,” Kleibrink shared in a recent interview.
But given the growth of Italian curling — perhaps best exemplified by a 2022 mixed doubles gold medal from Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini, as well as four Grand Slam titles from Joël Retornaz (who is competing in his fourth Olympic Games, and second on home soil) — the crowd experience will be a renewed one in Milano Cortina.
Kleibrink lost in the 1997 Canadian Olympic Trials to eventual gold medallist Sandra Schmirler, before defeating Kelly Scott in the 2005 final.
“Putting together the team at the beginning of that quad, we knew (qualifying for the Olympics) was going to be what we were gunning for,” Kleibrink said. “That was always the goal.”
After coming off the high of winning the Trials, sometimes only a few hundred fans were in attendance for the actual Winter Olympics, with many watching the sport for the first time.
“Twenty years ago, curling was not a popular sport in Italy, so the fans were really not knowledgeable about the game. They would cheer when a rock just rolled towards the button, and even if it wasn't really the shot (the teams) were playing,” Kleibrink said. “It was different coming off the Olympic Trials (in Halifax), where the building was 10,000 people and loud fans.”
PERFECTION IN 2014
While Kleibrink’s rink was unable to stand at the top of the podium, as was the silver medal-winning Cheryl Bernard-led rink at Vancouver 2010. Jennifer Jones skipped Canada to an Olympic title in 2014, Canada's first — and most recent — since 1998 on the women’s side.
Jones was joined on that rink by longtime teammates Dawn McEwen (née Askin) and Jill Officer, while bringing in then 22-year-old Kaitlyn Lawes to complete the team at the start of the new Olympic cycle in 2010. And much like Kleibrink, the nature of the possibility of playing for Canada on the world stage was always the driving force behind their team’s composition.
“There was never any doubt that we wanted to continue to strive for (representing Canada at the Olympics). And even after we won the Olympics. I mean, the four of us played another quadrennial together, and that was still the goal to try to get back to the Games,” Officer said.
Jones’ rink went a perfect 11-0 in Sochi, a first in Olympic women’s curling history.
“I really don't remember a bad moment in that time for us at the Games. Winning the gold was wonderful, but just that whole experience, and things going so well for us, was awesome,” Officer added. “The experience of the Games was wonderful for us. And I know that that's not the case for every athlete. I know that, you know, some athletes go there and things don't go according to plan, or they get sick, or they get injured or whatever.”
STICKING AROUND THE GAME
Both Kleibrink and Officer were on the coaching bench at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, coaching Alberta’s Kayla Skrlik rink and Manitoba’s Beth Peterson rink.
“I just love (the sport),” Kleibrink said of what she enjoys about coaching. “You don't have as much control behind the bench, of course, but it's just a pleasure to coach these girls and see their development over time.”
“I've spent so much time in and around the game; it's my community,” Officer shared. “Some people have their community at church, or some people have their community at a community centre or whatever else. But for me, curling is my community.”
ADVICE FOR TEAM CANADA
As for the women’s representatives this year in two-time defending world champions Team Homan, both Olympic veterans have high expectations.
“I don't think we've seen anything like that in the game, and they're just so good, and they're so meticulous and so detailed, and they just pay attention to the detail of every single shot, and they manage their shots so well,” Officer said.
“That team does not need any advice (from me),” Kleibrink said with a laugh. “They're on the top of the world, and as long as they bring their A game, I think they're going to do great things there.”
The women’s curling schedule begins Feb. 12.
Lead images by Curling Canada
