Lords of the Rings: Canada wins gold in wheelchair curling at Paralympic Winter Games

CORTINA, Italy – Canada defeated China 4-3 on a chaotic last throw of the game to win the gold medal in wheelchair curling Saturday at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

On the last throw, skip Mark Ideson of London, Ont., was in a tight situation with the game clock running out and uncertainty on whether the Canadian or Chinese rock was closest to the button.

‘’It’s one of the craziest finishes to a game I’ve ever been a part of,’’ said Ideson, who grew up in Parry Sound, Ont., and now lives in London, Ont. ‘’We are incredibly honored to get the win, the gold and experience such a great journey.’’

With all the shot calculations going through his head in addition to the screaming crowd and the pressure of the moment, Ideson delivered the golden shot tapping his own stone closer to the button to make Canada’s victory crystal clear.

Meanwhile the game clock was at 2.5 seconds remaining when he released the epic throw. If time runs out, Canada loses the game under international rules.

‘’I could tell we were low on the time by the amount of screaming,’’ said Ideson – also told after the game, he is Canada’s co flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony with Natalie Wilkie ‘’But we didn’t want to lose on a measure. There was a bit of confusion. I mean I’d basically thrown the same shot just before so I thought I’ll just throw it again.’’

It is the fourth time Canada has won the gold medal in wheelchair curling since it became a Games sport in 2006, and it’s its first title since 2014. Canada won bronze in 2018 and 2022. China was the defending two-time champion.

‘’Everybody just switched on to their best level this week,’’ said Canadian third Jon Thurston of Dunsford, Ont. ‘’It was an incredible experience and something I’ll never forget. The teamwork, the belief in each other and how we all supported each other so well.’’

It marked a third gold medal for second Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen, B.C., a five-time Paralympian, a second gold for Ideson, and a first for two-time Paralympians Thurston and lead Collinda Joseph of Stittsville, Ont. and fifth Gil Dash of Kipling, Sask., at his first Games.

‘’I told one of my teammates early in the week that I think this team is pretty special,’’ said Joseph. ‘’This week really proved it. Not just the people on the ice but the people behind the scenes.’’

Dash played two games in the round robin and was lauded by head coach Mick Lizmore for his work both on and off the ice.

Canada is also the first team to go through the entire Paralympic tournament undefeated finishing with an 11-0 record. Canada made three last end comeback wins in the tournament including stealing three in the eighth to beat South Korea 7-5 in Friday’s semifinal.

Sweden defeated South Korea for the bronze Friday night.

‘’You never expect to go undefeated,’’ said Ideson. ‘’The teams are so strong. The goal was always just to make the semis. But we built some momentum as the tournament progressed and to beat China, such an incredible team and so skilled, it was a great way to end it.’’

As he does for every Games, Ideson secretly hid a Lucky Loonie at the venue.

‘’I hid it near the championship game sheet,’’ he said flashing the unused shiny golden coin. ‘’During a pre-event practice I find a place to put it where no one will find it.

‘’I now have a Loonie in each of my podium jackets.’’