Athletes love to crib Kathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe and Leleton HewittAustralia, the sporting highlight of the Summer Olympics, increases its presence in specific winter events. and the ball (or rather, the puck) this time is the pair made by Dean Hewitt and Thali Gill, who will attend Beijing 2022 as the first representative of curling in the country’s history.
The historic ranking came in the month of December last year, when Gill and Hewitt won all seven matches of the ranking tournament in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. And of course, the place came with a lot of emotion, after a 6-5 victory over Korea Republic with a stone thrown by Gill in the eighth and final end of the match.
“It’s amazing. I called Tahli about three years ago and said, ‘Look, do you want to try to qualify for these Olympics? We’ve been working really hard over the last few months and years, now We can say it was worth it,” Hewitt said in a statement published on the International Curling Federation’s official website.
close enemy
Preparation for both involved months in Canada with coach John Morris. If the coach participated in the ceremony on the side of the occasion at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, he would not be able to be next to his students in the “ice cube” – or rather, he would be there, only competing.
Morris, a mixed doubles gold medalist at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games, says the final clash against the Australian will be a difficult one.
“This will be my most complicated duel in Beijing. I have trouble playing against people I have a lot of respect for, and it’s hard for me to put that killer instinct in front of really good friends,” the 43-year-old Canadian told the magazine. Sports Illustrated,
Hewitt and Gill’s adventure begins in front of sporting powers such as Switzerland, Norway and Sweden on February 2, two days before the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022. And the appearance of the Australians does not go unnoticed even to the Americans, debut rivals.
“It’s really nice to see curling spreading and reaching countries like Australia. I’m sure it’s been an adventure for them, including losing their trainer. I’m so excited to face them”, the American pair Chris Pliss, one of the members, explained in statements reproduced by the Olympic Information Service (OIS).
Australia will face the USA at 20:05 on February 2, Beijing time (9:05 in Brasilia).
View the full Beijing 2022 curling schedule
double life
Despite their recent success, Hewitt and Gil still need other jobs to survive. She is a physical therapist and works in an ice rink and a supermarket while she is completing her elementary education and once worked in an ice cream shop.
However, buoyed by their recent fourth place at the 2019 World Curling Championships, Hewitt and Gill are aiming no less: They’re already talking about going beyond that and reaching the Olympic podium.
“If you look at the ranked teams, all ten titles can be reached – they are all phenomenal,” Hewitt told Australian magazine. Meal,
