At the start of mixed doubles competition in Italy, Canada’s Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman secured a remarkable 10-5 victory over Czechia despite a brief power outage at the Olympic curling venue. The Canadian duo took an early lead by stealing a point in the first end and adding a steal of four in the second, setting the tone for the match. Despite facing challenges like a bloodied ice surface from a squashed fly and a misplaced stone requiring a re-throw, Gallant and Peterman maintained their composure and quickly regained their advantage whenever Czechia closed in on the score.
Gallant expressed satisfaction with their performance, acknowledging the competitive nature of doubles play and the need to stay focused throughout the game. The Czech team, which qualified for the Games in December, put up a strong fight but ultimately couldn’t match the consistency of the Canadian pair.
The venue, the 3,450-seat Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium, saw a decent turnout of spectators, a welcome change from the previous Olympics in Beijing where no fans were allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite a minor power outage and unusual incidents like a fly on the ice, both teams adapted to the unexpected challenges with a sense of humor and professionalism.
Looking ahead, Canada will face Norway in their next round-robin match, aiming to build on their strong start in the competition. Gallant and Peterman, who secured Canada’s berth in the Olympic tournament last year, are determined to continue their success and potentially secure a medal in the event, following in the footsteps of previous Canadian curling champions.
The duo’s impressive performance in mixed doubles adds to Canada’s rich history in curling at the Winter Olympics, with a total of 12 medals, including six gold, since the sport’s reintroduction to the program in 1998. With curling events scheduled throughout the Games, Canadian fans can look forward to more thrilling matches and potential medal victories in Italy.
