Curling at a world-class level takes athleticism, skill and incredible precision.
But if you want to win, you need something more than physical gifts.
According to Canadian Olympic Gold Medallist Jennifer Jones, above all, you need heart.
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Jones should know. She led Canada to an undefeated record at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia. Her resume also includes a 2008 World Women’s Curling title, five Canadian championships and seven provincial titles.
Jones said with the high level of talent nationally and internationally, what often separates winners from competitors is the ability of a team to bond, to work together and be greater than the sum of its parts.
“Curling is both an individual and a team sport,” she said. “There isn’t anything that I do that doesn’t require the help of Kaitlyn (vice Kaitlyn Lawes) Jill (second Jill Officer) or Dawn (lead Dawn McEwen). We need everyone’s ability to win at this level. Call it chemistry or whatever you like, your team has to bond or you aren’t going to have success.”
She said the team’s goal in Sochi was to live in and enjoy the moment and try to stay one step ahead of the competition.
“This is where the team togetherness comes in,” she said. “I like to try the unexpected to be daring and unorthodox. I know I have the confidence of my team and I know that no matter what, we aren’t afraid to lose. That gives us a real edge.”
Jones visited Chatham last week as part of her duties at National Bank Financial where she is Senior Legal Advisor.
Local NBF Investment Advisor Brian Glover said having Jones in Chatham meant a lot to local curlers.
“Jennifer is the face of women’s curling here and around the world,” he said. “She has a tremendous amount of pride in what she’s accomplished but she doesn’t have an ego.”
Jones provided instruction for about 40 junior curlers at the Chatham Granite Club Thursday and spoke before a sell-out luncheon at the club Friday.
The event raised more than $1,500 for junior curling in Chatham. “I love working with kids, they have so much enthusiasm,” she said. “It’s great that we were able to raise some money for them as well.”
To maintain her edge, Jones throws a minimum of 64 rocks each and every day (the equivalent of several games’ worth) and follows a strict training regimen.
She credits the Olympics with bringing curling to the forefront of Canadian sport consciousness but noted it has also meant so much more commitment.
“The best teams are working year round so we need to make that commitment as well,” she said. “The days when a local team could get hot through zones and provincials and make a run nationally are fewer than they used to be.”
She describes winning at Sochi as an “out of body” experience. “I’m a mom, and the feeling of winning at Sochi was as close to that kind of happiness as I can describe. It was as if we had won something for the whole country, my country. It was incredible.”
The feeling intensified when the team returned home and people began sharing their stories of where they were and what they were doing when Team Canada won.
“I saw how much it meant to people, what a milestone it was and it made me appreciate it even more if that’s possible,” she said.
Jones is off to Oshawa this week and will play at the Canada Cup in Grande Prairie, Alberta next month and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts next February as she compiles points leading to the next Olympic trials.
“I love the competition, my team is tremendous and we still have the ability and will to win,” she said.
