Monday, December 10, 2001
Fellowship of the rings
Martin's team off to Salt Lake hoping to grab Olympic gold
By CON GRIWKOWSKY -- Edmonton Sun
REGINA -- Once again, Kevin Martin is Canada's Lord of the Rings.
Martin, along with his Edmonton Ottewell rink of third Don Walchuk, second Carter Rycroft and lead Don Bartlett have earned the right to represent Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
After a shaky start, Martin's team turned on the power in an 8-7 win over Winnipeg's Kerry Burtnyk.
"Do you think after all the worlds and stuff we're going to go in as a favourite?'' said Martin, taking a shot at his own international record. "All the people in Scotland just said 'yeah.' I still cherish being at the Olympics in '92. Now, to get another crack at it is huge.
"I think Canada has a real good shot at gold and for sure, the medals. We players who play around the world see a changing of the guard. We as Canadians are going to have to smarten up a little bit.''
LAUGHING IN SCOTLAND?
Laugh if you must, said Walchuk.
"I hope they are laughing in Scotland - I really do,'' said Walchuk. "We have a great team. We've proven it over and over again in Canada. Unfortunately, that's how the cookie crumbles. The international thing, that's all in the past. We have different personnel, we've aged and matured. We'll be teeming with confidence when we get to Salt Lake.''
It was an emotional moment for the crew, who jumped, pumped their fists and hugged each other after Martin coldly drew the four-foot with his final stone of the 10th end.
"I thought - just trust yourself,'' said Martin. "I didn't think about anything else. I was drawing pretty good all week and I'm glad it worked out.''
The decisive blow came in the sixth end after Burtnyk's last rock ticked off a Martin stone in the top of the 12-foot. A measure gave Martin three points and the lead as he fended off a strong challenge in the last four ends.
"At the fifth end break, we told Carter, relax man,'' said Martin about a nervous performance by Rycroft.
It will be the second Olympic appearance for Martin, who finished out of the demonstration medals at Albertville in 1992. It's also a vindication for his loss to Toronto's Mike Harris in the 1997 final.
"It's huge to try to win, but the problem is you're playing against a guy like Burtnyk. There's no guarantee you'll win,'' said Martin.
"If you get into enough finals, you win some and lose some. If you're in enough of them, you win your fair share.
"Today, the team seemed sharp mentally. We were in trouble early and the guys dug down. They had the momentum early. We hung in there and it changed.''
Martin has made no secret of the fact he considers the Olympics curling's ultimate prize. Now, he's given himself a chance not only to win Canada's first-ever men's curling gold medal, but to exorcise his international demons.
Since he's been there, Martin's celebration was a bit more subdued than his rinkmates.
"I'm surprisingly calm right now,'' said Martin. "Maybe tomorrow it will sink in.''
'A PHENOMENAL FEELING'
Carter was as thrilled as anybody when the game ended.
"It's a phenomenal feeling to be 24 years old and going to the Olympics,'' said Carter. "When my career started, I never really thought of this. I was always dreaming of the Brier. This is the big one and to be going is an absolute thrill.''
Bartlett is looking forward to finally getting a gold medal around his neck.
"We'll see if we can do it right this time,'' Bartlett said. "It's big. It's probably one of the biggest things we've ever won - to represent your country in the Olympics.''
At 41, Bartlett is the oldest member of the team. There's different reasons he's happy for each of his teammates to get a shot at Olympic gold.
"I'm happy for everybody,'' said Bartlett. "Kevin gets to go back and prove himself in a way he hasn't done. Carter's never been anywhere out of Canada. Walchuk has lost his last two Olympic trials and I feel great for him.
"Don just curled fantastic. Carter and I weren't strong early. He made outstanding shot after outstanding shot to keep us in the game.''
Now, this team is back in the big game. There's enough motivation for them to put on a memorable Olympics show.
They proved they could mix it up with the best of them yesterday. This time, they could have a team with the right mix to finish the job.
There's not much rest for them, though. They're off to the inaugural Grand Slam event in Wainwright on Wednesday.
2002 Games Curling Coverage
