Mark Ideson and Canada's wheelchair curling team made history by claiming the gold medal in their sport at the Milan Cortina Paralympics on Saturday, defeating China 4-3. This marks the first gold medal in wheelchair curling for Canada since 2014, breaking the cycle of back-to-back bronze finishes in the previous two Paralympics held in 2018 and 2022.
Ideson, the skip hailing from London, Ont., noted the significance of his team’s nickname, "the Cardiac Canadians." He expressed pride in how they managed to pull everything together, stating, “Thanks to everyone for watching at home. It was an incredible week and amazing to finish it off.” This victory also signifies Canada's return to prominence in wheelchair curling after previously winning three consecutive gold medals from the event's introduction in 2006 until their drought began in 2018.
The Canadian lineup comprised Ideson, third/vice-skip Jon Thurston, second Ina Forrest, lead Collinda Joseph, and alternate Gilbert Dash, successfully completing the tournament undefeated over 11 matches. They became the first team to achieve such a remarkable feat in this event, with Ideson acknowledging their teamwork and resilience throughout the competition.
Thurston remarked, “It’s a super-special team. Everybody had each other’s back. Our process was really high. We were just resilient.” Emphasizing the toughness of the competition, he revealed that several of their matches were thrillingly close, resulting in elevated heart rates. However, their ability to win games in varied scenarios was a testament to their skill and determination, as they celebrated their historical gold medal win.
The final match against China was fiercely contested. The game fluctuated before China leveled the score at 3-3 in the seventh end, setting the stage for a high-stakes eighth end. Ideson skillfully placed his first stone at the edge of the four-foot circle. When China’s skip, Wang Haitao, failed to make a critical raise shot, it set up Ideson for the decisive moment. With only two seconds remaining, Ideson calculated a careful tap on his earlier stone rather than necessitating a measure to confirm the shot, ensuring his team secured the win. Reflecting on the pressure, he stated, “I’d say it was a bit of a gamble… We managed to get it away. I had a really good feel on my first run.”
This victory also brought personal achievement for Ina Forrest, who now holds three gold medals and two bronze medals in Paralympic competition. When asked about her success, she highlighted the importance of teamwork in reaching this pinnacle: “It means I’ve been on a lot of really fantastic teams and had some amazing teammates.”
In addition to the curling achievement, Michaela Gosselin made headlines in Para alpine skiing by winning a bronze medal in the women’s standing slalom event. The 25-year-old athlete from Collingwood, Ont., completed the event with a total time of 1:29.19. Gosselin's performance was impressive, as she faced tough competition from Russia’s Varvara Voronchikhina, who took home gold with a time of 1:26.95, and China’s Zhu Wenjing, who secured silver with a time of 1:28.44.
Gosselin expressed her excitement about winning a medal in what has been a challenging games. “I’m so excited. Saved the best for last, and I’m so happy to have a medal,” she exclaimed, noting the numerous obstacles she faced leading up to her victory. With multiple prior attempts resulting in finishes of fifth, ninth, seventh, ninth, and eighth in previous events, this bronze medal marked her first career medal at her second Paralympics, providing her a significant personal milestone.
Regarding her journey, Gosselin reflected, “This medal is a testament to everything I’ve gone through. Ski racing is such a sport with ups and downs… I’m very happy with this result in my skiing.” She concluded by emphasizing the shared dedication of all athletes at the games, taking pride in the hard work that led to her newfound success.
