For only the second time in Olympic history, Canada is golden in women’s curling. Manitobans let out a collective cheer as Jennifer Jones and team beat Sweden to go undefeated in Sochi.
The win also brought tears of joy to a hometown crowd who gathered at the St. Vital Curling Club to watch the game. Hundreds of fans packed the rink where skip Jennifer Jones started curling to watch her throw the winning rock.
"I knew she had it from the second she let go, when she smiled. I was so excited," said Paige Beaudry, junior member at the St. Vital Curling Club.
Canada and Sweden tied it up 3-3 after eight ends, putting fans on edge. "I mean, my knees are still shaking, but that's ok,” said junior director Guy Beaudry. “That's that adrenaline rush, that's what you want."
Jones came through with a huge steal in the ninth end, easing the tension for her sister, celebrating at home with family. “I knew then. Jen knew then, could see her smiling and that's something Jennifer doesn't usually do on the ice,” said Heather Jones.
Jones’ win came as no surprise to one of her former curling coaches. “She would always try something that the other kids wouldn't try,” said Denis Lafreniere, former president of St. Vital Curling Club.
Team Jones, including Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer and Dawn McEwen, are all familiar faces at St. Vital Curling Club.
“We couldn't be more happy right now,” said club member Ali Logan. “Couldn't be more happy and proud of the girls.”
Team Jones is only the second team to ever complete a tournament undefeated. “It's a dream to do that with these girls,” said Lawes. “It's going to be in the history books, so that's pretty special.”
Their performance has inspired many younger curlers. "I aspire to one day get to the Olympics and be as good of a curler as she is," said Hannah Beaudry.
“They bring in so many curlers,” said Guy Beaudry. “They bring in juniors. We're going to have to add to the building, I think, because this is going to be so great.”
This is Canada's first Olympic gold medal in women's curling since 1998, when Sandra Schmirler won in Nagano. Team Canada will be arriving back in Winnipeg on Monday, Feb. 24 at 10:11 p.m. from Toronto.
- With a report by Alesia Fieldberg