Mixed feelings make way for relief
Lawes, Morris on roll in curling
Other than their bus driver getting lost and making them late for one of their games, things have started to go pretty smoothly for Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris at the Olympics.
The Canadian curlers bounced back nicely from a loss in their first game in the mixed doubles competition with back-to-back wins, including a 10-4 dismantling of China (Rui Wang and Dexin Ba) Friday morning.
On Thursday night, they had an adventure with seven other teams when the bus travelling from the athletes’ village to the Gangneung Curling Centre got lost.
“We’ve had some interesting experiences and stories from both Games, but that one was a first for everyone,” said Lawes, who also competed in the 2014 Olympics.
“A 10- or 15-minute bus ride turning into an hour. There are things that are out of your control, so you can’t really sweat those things.”
The team got to the arena with little time to spare and had to rush through its practice session before a game against the United States. It didn’t seem to bother Lawes and Morris much as they won 6-4.
On Friday morning, they started looking like a true gold-medal contender.
Both players looked confident and seemed to have a much better grip on the ice conditions and it showed in their performance against China.
“We’re starting to get a bit of momentum,” Morris said. “It’s a new country and even if you’re here for a week before, it takes time to get used to things. It’s the first mixed doubles event, but it feels good. I think we both feel comfortable.”
Canada was 2-1 and played 0-3 Finland on Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, former NHL veteran Chris Kelly was named captain of Canada’s men’s hockey team.
Kelly, who helped the Boston Bruins win a Stanley Cup in 2011 and most recently played with the Ottawa Senators, will be tasked with leading Canada in its quest for a third straight Olympic men’s hockey title.
“Such a great honour,” Kelly said. “And very humbling. There’s so many great people in that locker-room who could ultimately be wearing it. It’s a thrill.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis posted the fastest time in the first Olympic downhill training session.
Osborne-Paradis, from Invermere, B.C., finished in one minute 40.45 seconds in breezy, sunny conditions at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. He’s making his fourth appearance at the Winter Olympics.
Additional training sessions were scheduled for Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday’s race.
In ski jumping, Calgary’s Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes advanced to the competition phase of the men’s normal hill competition, placing 23rd in qualifying with a score of 114.6. Germany ’s Andreas Wellinger led all jumpers at 133.5 points.
Outside competition, the norovirus outbreak at Olympic venues continued to threaten the Games. The number of confirmed cases grew to 128 by Thursday evening with 42 new instances.
None of the cases are athletes and the COC said no Canadian staff members have been affected.