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Rachel Homan Secures Third Olympic Berth, leading Canadian Curling Team to Milano-Cortina
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Canada’s Rachel Homan and her rink-comprising Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes-will represent the nation in curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.The Ottawa-based team decisively defeated Team Christina Black in the final of the Canadian curling trials, solidifying their position as the nation’s top curling squad.
Dominant Performance Seals Olympic Qualification
Homan’s team clinched their Olympic spot with a commanding 12-3 victory over Team Black in Game 2 of the best-of-three final, held Saturday in Halifax. This win followed a closely contested 5-4 victory on Friday, demonstrating the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure. “We couldn’t be happier,” Homan stated. “There aren’t words to describe putting that Maple Leaf on your back at the Olympics.”
A Veteran Presence on the Olympic Stage
This marks Homan’s third consecutive Olympic appearance. She previously competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea as part of a women’s team alongside miskew, and at the 2022 Beijing Games in mixed doubles with John Morris. Despite strong showings in both appearances, Homan has yet to reach the Olympic podium, a goal she and her team are now firmly focused on achieving.
watch: Team Homan secures 2026 olympic ticket
Strategic mastery and opponent Struggles
The decisive Game 2 saw Homan’s team take control early, scoring four points in the third end at Scotiabank Center. Team Black, skipped by Christina Black, struggled with the precision of their shots, particularly with draw weight, which proved costly against the world’s top-ranked team. In the first end, Black’s final throw was light, allowing Homan to capitalize with a deuce.
Team Black, consisting of vice Jill Brothers, second Marlee Powers, and lead Karlee Everist, attempted to rebound in the second end, but were limited to a pair of points after Black again misjudged a draw. The third end proved pivotal, as Homan’s team expertly placed rocks and capitalized on errors from their opponents, securing a significant lead.
A Decisive Victory and Future Outlook
By the fifth end,Homan’s team held a commanding 9-2 lead,effectively silencing the home crowd. The teams shook hands after completing the minimum eight ends, acknowledging Homan’s team’s dominance. This was Team Black’s first appearance in a trials final,having previously upset the second-ranked Kerri Einarson in the semifinal round.
watch: Rachel Homan ready to return to Olympics and ‘take on the world’
The men’s final between Matt Dunstone’s Winnipeg team and the Calgary-based side skipped by Brad Jacobs was scheduled for Saturday night, with Jacobs having won the first game 9-8.As Homan and her team prepare for
