BEIJING –Jon Thurston delivered two spectacular shots in the eighth and final end as Canada defeated Slovakia 8-3 to win the bronze medal in wheelchair curling Friday at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
Canada has reached the podium in all five wheelchair curling tournaments since the sport was added to the Games in 2006.
With Canada leading 4-3 after seven ends and Slovakia lying two, Thurston, who shoots last, knocked both Slovakia stones out on his first throw to leave Canada lying three. However the Slovakian skip put his rock back in scoring position to force Thurston into another pressure shot. The Games rookie was on target once again, discarding the Slovakian stone to give Canada four and a medal.
Team Canada was skipped by Mark Ideson of London, Ont., with Dennis Thiessen of Crystal City, Man. as the second, Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen, B.C., the third and Thurston from Dunsford, Ont. Collinda Joseph of Stittsville, Ont., was the alternate but did see some action during the tournament.
It is a fourth Games medal for Forrest, a third for Ideson and Thiessen and a first for Thurston and Joseph.
Canada stole a point in each of the first two ends before Slovakia scored a deuce in the fourth. One point in the fifth and sixth put the Canadians ahead 4-2 and Slovakia responded with one win in the seventh to set the dramatic finish.
