LAWES GUTTED OUT HER ‘DREAM YEAR’ ON CURLING CIRCUIT
Winnipeg curler played through hernia to win mixed doubles gold and world title
It has been well documented that Kaitlyn Lawes had one of the greatest seasons in the history of curling in 2018, but what many people might not know is that she did it all while dealing with a debilitating injury.
Lawes, a 30-year-old from Winnipeg, won the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials with John Morris in January — an event she called one of the most physically and mentally demanding competitions she has played in — followed that up with the first gold medal in mixed doubles at the Olympics in South Korea in February and capped it with a world women’s championship as third for Jennifer Jones in March.
All the while she was holding off on having surgery for an inguinal hernia, which made it impossible for her to train the way she normally would in the gym and on the ice.
“Thankfully I did hold off as none of the championships would have been possible,” Lawes said Tuesday.
“It was a tough season mentally. I was in a ton of pain in the early months. Absolutely no lifting and not as much ice time was very strange for me. But I decided it was not going to hold me back and I worked hard on other aspects of my game. I didn’t speak about it, except to my teammates and family. I didn’t want it to be a distraction or make a big deal out of it.”
In May, immediately after the Grand Slam’s Champions Cup, Lawes had the surgery and spent the summer resting and recovering.
She came back in strong form and resumed her role on the Jones team, helping the squad to its fourth Canada Cup title earlier this month.
Aside from the injury, Lawes can barely believe how memorable her year has been.
“It is almost impossible for me to put into words just how special 2018 has been,” said Lawes, a two-time Olympic champion who also won women’s gold with Jones at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.
“It truly has been a dream year for me. It’s surreal to take a step back and look at all that has gone on this past year. Wow, it doesn’t get any better than that. I was so lucky to have the best support system to help me achieve all of these incredible feats alongside my teammates.”
It wasn’t just people in the curling world who took notice of her achievements this year.
Lawes finished in the top five in voting for the prestigious Lou Marsh Trophy, presented annually to Canada’s athlete of the year. The other four finalists were Edmonton Oilers star Connor Mcdavid, figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond, golfer Brooke Henderson and moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury, the eventual winner.
“To be even considered as a nominee for the Lou Marsh Trophy is an incredible honour,” Lawes said. “I believe that having my name mentioned alongside Canada’s top athletes says a lot about the sport of curling and not just me as an individual. I am extremely proud to have been considered.”
The Jones team, which will serve as Team Canada at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sydney, N.S., in February, has a new look this season with Jocelyn Peterman replacing longtime second Jill Officer.
The team has qualified for the playoffs at every event it has entered this season and certainly looks like a contender to repeat as Canadian and world champions. Olympian Rachel Homan’s team, with two Grand Slam titles and a World Cup win in China already this season under its belt, may have a thing or two to say about that, but the Jones team is right there as well.
“Winning the Canada Cup with our new lineup was extra special,” Lawes said. “This was our first win as a team and Jocelyn’s first Canada Cup title. We are very proud with how we played and how we really came together as a team in such a strong field.”
One thing Lawes is not doing much of these days is playing mixed doubles. Though she and Morris intend to remain a team for the foreseeable future and possibly until the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, Lawes is committed to her four-player team and is playing only a couple of mixed doubles events with Morris.
“He is only playing mixed doubles and I cannot commit to a full schedule like he can, so he has found several spares for the events he wants to play in,” Lawes said. “We played in Portage la Prairie, Man., in November and will play in Banff in January. Those are my two events with John and possibly the nationals if (the Jones team) is not at the women’s world championship.”
No matter what happens, Lawes is not likely going to be able to top her 2018 next year, but she’s ready to give it a try.
“We can’t wait to see what the new year brings,” she said.
It was a tough season mentally. I was in a ton of pain in the early months. Absolutely no lifting and not as much ice time was very strange for me.