PARALYMPICS – MARCH 10, 2026 – This morning’s Paralympic showdown between China and Canada’s mixed wheelchair curling teams, was likely a preview of this coming Saturday’s gold medal match.
The strategic battle between world-ranked No. 1, China and No. 2- ranked, Canada lived up to everyone’s expectations; including the athletes.
An exuberant Collinda Joseph, a member of Canada’s team, exclaimed, “It felt like a gold medal game, really. It was incredible. I was telling someone else that it’s the first time I've ever been part of a win against that team in international play, and to have it happen today was just incredible.”
The Canadian team has been getting stronger, throwing their stones with greater confidence and accuracy, and winning by greater margins, as the round robin portion of the tournament progresses.
Game I: 9:8 versus Italy
The game came down to Italy’s final stone and a couple millimetres. Italy placed one stone in scoring position. Canada’s rock, also in the house (target), barely edged out Italy’s second stone, narrowly averting a tie-breaker.
Game II: 5:4 versus Great Britain
This match was an epic struggle between chess masters, with the Canadian team prevailing.
Game III: 9:2 versus Norway
Norway and Canada were equally matched, with both teams in contention, until the sixth end, when John Thurston threaded the needle, passing through a gauntlet of rocks, bumping Norway’s two rocks from the house, and leaving a fifth Canadian stone in scoring position.
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| What the house looked like before Jon Thurston's throw Apple iPhone YouTube app screen snapshot |
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| What the house looked like after Jon Thurston's throw Apple iPad CBC Gem app screen snapshot |
Watch the YouTube Short of John Thurston threading the needle
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MIKlERQtHUA
Canada’s skip, Mark Ideson, pushed one more stone into the house, giving their team a six-point end.
With a seven-point deficit, the Norwegian team conceded defeat. The final two ends were not played.
Game IV: 11:1 versus Latvia
The Canadian team dominated Latvia, right out of the gate, scoring three points, in the first end. Canada continued racking up points, in the second, third, fourth and fifth ends, including four in the fourth, before the Latvian team finally got on the scoreboard, with a single point, in the sixth.
Down by 10 points, Latvia threw in the towel, at the end of the sixth. For the second consecutive match, the final two ends were not played.
Game V: 9:4 versus China
This morning, Canada jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against the team from the Republic of China, in the first end.
After adding a second point, during the third end, China scored three, in the fourth end, to tie the match.
Canada answered with two points, in the fifth end, to retake the lead 5-3.
“We scored two in the first end right away, which is a great start. Stole one. They scored three back. And for us to score that two right back, that was a good response from us,” explained John Thurston.
China responded with one point, in the sixth end.
Canada stormed back, capitalizing on two errors by China, to score a quartet of points, in the seventh end.
“I think just bring our A game. I think capitalize on opportunities as soon as we get them. And I think we did that,” Thurston stated.
He continued, “And then a good force and then score four.” “We love that scoreboard. Just great effort by the whole team.”
Behind by five points, with one end remaining, China conceded defeat.
Don’t you dare count China out! In their second match of the day, they spanked Latvia 8-3.
Expect to see both of these teams again, in Friday’s semi-final matches and playing for the gold medal on Saturday.
“You know, China’s the reigning Paralympic champion, reigning world champion for a good reason. They’re a great team,” according to John Thurston.
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