It was all Canada, all game long as John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes struck gold in the Olympic debut of mixed doubles curling in PyeongChang, Tuesday (Feb. 13).
It was all Canada, all game long as John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes struck gold in the Olympic debut of mixed doubles curling in PyeongChang, Tuesday (Feb. 13).
In a game where Canada displayed its dominance in the inaugural eight-nation event, Canmore's Morris and Winnipeg's Lawes simply outplayed the Swiss pair of Jenny Perret and Martin Rios in a 10-3, six-end gold medal victory at the Gangneung Curling Centre.
The bronze medal went to OAR (Anastasia Bryzgalova and Aleksandr Krushelnitckii), which defeated Norway (Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten) on Monday (Feb. 12).
Lawes is now the only Canadian curler to win back-to-back gold, as she won in 2014 with the Jennifer Jones rink. It's Morris's second gold as well, as he won in 2010 with the Kevin Martin rink.
"Unbelievable," said Lawes post game in an interview with CBC/TSN. "It's a dream come true."
"To get two golds for Canada ... this is for everyone back home who's been so supportive and my family. It just feels so great," said Morris.
"We're having such a great Games for Canada and to give us a boost like this with another gold? It just feels awesome to be part of the team."
After hugs all around from friends and family who attended the Games, Lawes said, "it's just so nice to have them here and able to be part of this journey with us. We can't do it without them. It means the world to us to have their support."
Both Lawes and Morris had failed to qualify for the Olympics with their regular teams during trials action, so the mixed doubles event proved to be a bonus chance to compete in Korea.
"I think this game of mixed doubles is just fantastic," said Morris, "and I think it's something everyone back in Canada who loves curling should try. It's fast-paced, it's athletic, it's a lot of fun and the beer tastes just as good after the game. I think it's here to stay and I can't wait to see how well it does back in Canada."
Lawes, who struggled somewhat in Canada's semifinal victory over Norway, said, "I just went out there and I just wanted to embrace every moment. I wanted to have fun and enjoy sliding over those Olympic rings.
"We're so proud of what we've accomplished and I wanted to enjoy every second of it."
On her back-to-back gold, Lawes said "it's surreal and an incredible honour to represent our country."
In a game that CBC/TSN broadcaster and Olympic silver medallist Mike Harris called "a clinic in mixed doubles curling," Morris and Lawes dominated all aspects of the gold medal game against Perret and Rios.
After Canada and Switzerland traded deuces with the hammer in ends one and two to make it 2-2, the Canadians smashed the game open by taking advantage of a Rios miss on an open big weight hit. Morris followed Rios' miss with a tap and roll to the button to sit four.
Perret, throwing last rock for the Swiss, then played a big weight hit to spill just one Canadian rock out of the rings, leaving Lawes with a hack weight tap back for four points and a 6-2 lead they would not relinquish.
Lawes and Morris kept pressure on the Swiss, forcing Perret to draw for one in the fourth end for a 6-3 score.
Canada struck again for two with the hammer in the fifth to make it 8-2 and clinched the game in the sixth, once again, as perfect shots by Morris and Lawes left Perret a Hail Mary angle raise to try and take two Canadian rocks off the button. She took out her own rock, though, and Canada stole two for the 10-3 victory.
Canada had an opening round-robin loss to Norway, but reeled off eight consecutive games for gold, proving they were the class of the event.
In the debut medal event for mixed doubles at the Olympics, Canada was joined by the U.S., Norway, Finland, China, OAR, host South Korea and Switzerland.
After collecting his second gold, Morris told the World Curling Federation, "You never know how many times you're going to be able to get to an Olympics. It's just such a privilege if you can get to one.
"So, the fact that we've been able to come to two and getting through such a tough country like Canada and wearing that maple leaf on your back, the pressure is always on you. Whether you're a hockey fan or a curling fan - everyone wants you to bring home that gold. So, it's so great we were able to do that, winning a gold medal."
