Canadian curling team edges South Korea 5-3 for emotional Paralympic bronze
GANGNEUNG, Korea, Republic Of — A Canadian curling team that had laughed and smiled its way through a roller-coaster Pyeongchang Paralympics was a puddle of tears after capturing bronze.
Moments after Mark Ideson, Ina Forrest, Dennis Thiessen and Marie Wright edged hosts South Korea 5-3 in Saturday morning’s bronze-medal game, the four raised their arms triumphantly. They gathered for a group hug. And they cried.
For Thiessen, a 49-year-old from Sanford, Man., the tears were about his battle with cancer, and not knowing if he’d ever be back on Paralympic ice.
“I’ve had a tough four years,” he said, as Wright reached a comforting arm around his shoulders. “This was very emotional. I never thought I’d have the chance to do this again. My coaches who are the best in the world believed in me, and I’m here today, and got to play for Canada, and taking home a bronze. I can’t be happier.”