Sunday, December 9, 2001
Cruisin' to Olys
Law downs Anderson to earn women's berth
By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
REGINA -- The Dream Team fulfilled its ultimate fantasy.
B.C.'s Kelley Law, the foursome that introduced "debriefing" to the curling world, is following the late Sandra Schmirler of Saskatchewan to the Olympics.
Like a thief in the night, Law stole three straight points -- two in the pivotal seventh end -- to take a 6-2 lead, then coasted to a 7-3 victory over Saskatchewan's home-town favourite Sherry Anderson in the women's final of the 2001 Canadian Curling Trials before 6,908 fans at the Agridome yesterday afternoon.
"This is just an amazing feeling," said Law as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. "This is the goal we've prepared for all week and we came out and gave it our all."
Supported by third Julie Skinner, second Georgina Wheatcroft and lead Diane Nelson, Law will represent Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Ogden, Utah, Feb. 11-27.
"It's a great honour for our team to go and hopefully we can follow in Sandra's footsteps," said Law, 35. "I saw myself on the podium a couple of times this week but I just had to shut those things down.
"I'm kind of in shock now. I just have to try to grasp this. This is kind of surreal right now. It's unreal, I can't believe it. I'm just so happy."
Because Schmirler's squad won gold in 1998, the pressure will be on Law to follow suit.
"It was a lot of pressure to win this," Law allowed. "A medal would be awesome. We'd just take that and hold it close to our hearts. Whatever else happens to us will be fate or destiny. We're just thrilled to be where we are right now."
Law had predicted that winning the trials would change the curlers' lives.
"Not everyone can say they were an Olympian so I think that's life-changing right there," she said. "It's really amazing. This is going to be huge in our lives. We're all taking leaves of absence from work and putting our hearts and souls into this. So this is the best time in our lives and I know it."
Her foursome will also get Olympic funding and earned spots into the CCA's new cashspiels.
Law already captured a gold medal here, with Anderson settling for silver and Nova Scotia's Colleen Jones getting bronze.
Skinner won a bronze medal in 1992 when curling was a demonstration sport, so the team can benefit from her experience.
"We welcome the challenge of going to the Olympics," she said.
Meanwhile, Anderson went flat after shooting the lights out in the semifinal.
"I'm very, very disappointed," Anderson said. "After the game we played (Friday), well, it wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. I missed some shots that were fairly routine.
"There's only going to be one team in Canada going and there was only going to be one team out of 10 that was going to be happy at the end of the week. And we're the saddest right now because we got the furthest past the other teams. It's just going to be tough for the next few hours and I think I need a drink."
2002 Games Curling Coverage
