CURLER KYLE IS EYEING GLORY
Beijing 2022 is golden target
Hamilton curler Kyle Waddell has set his sights on the 2022 Winter Olympics in China after having his first taste of the Games in South Korea.
The 24-year-old enjoyed the experience in Pyeongchang despite Team GB crashing out of a semi-final play-off against Switzerland.
Kyle says that has made him even more determined to taste the Olympics again – and he hopes next time to return from Beijing with a medal.
Team Smith – comprising of Kyle Smith, Thomas Muirhead, Kyle Waddell, Cammy Smith and Glen Muirhead – will play-off against Team Mouat – Scottish champions Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy Mcmillan jnr – at the Dewar’s Centre in Perth this weekend to see who will represent Scotland at the World Championships in Las Vegas.
Kyle reckons having a competition so soon after returning from Las Vegas will help him over his disappointment on the Olympics stage.
He said: “It was a good experience but we’re disappointed not to have made the play-offs. That was our main goal but presenting Great Britain was a very proud moment for me, a great honour.
“We had a good experience and it’s important to learn from it.
“Any athlete in any sport wants the chance to go to the Olympics and when you achieve that, it’s a very proud moment.
“I’m definitely determined to get to the next Winter Olympics. It has been a life-long goal to get to a Winter Olympics, and to win a medal.
“We never made that happen but I’m fully committed to the next four years.
“It would be amazing to get to Beijing and a second Winter Olympics in a row in Asia. Whether it’s your last or your first, it has that bite and that edge and you never lose that desire. I’m definitely fully prepared for it.”
Despite the disappointment of what they perceived as an early exit from the competition, Kyle enjoyed the experience.
He said: ”we had been working for eight months to be in that position. To be in with so many other sports was great, it was a nice environment to be in.
“I’ve been part of the team for some time and that definitely helped.
“You know each other inside-out and when you’re competing in such a small-team sport, there’s nowhere to hide. You know how each other works.
“We felt that we would know how each other would react to situations. You have this support team around you, there are three other guys who can help you.”
Team Smith will be in action on Saturday and Sunday. Kyle said: “We’re straight back into it, that means we’re not dwelling too much on the Winter Olympics. Qualifying for the World Championships is our next goal.
“We’ve learned a lot from our experience.”