Gushue Secures Olympic Spot with Win Over Jacobs
SASKATOON — Brad Gushue is heading back to the Winter Olympics. The St. John’s, N.L. skip triumphed over Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with a 4-3 victory in the Canadian Olympic Trials final held at SaskTel Centre on Sunday night.
Gushue, 41, and his team, which includes third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant, and lead Geoff Walker, will represent Canada in Beijing’s Olympic curling tournament from February 9-19, 2026. The victory was particularly poignant as it marked Gushue’s return to the Olympic stage after a 16-year hiatus since his gold medal win in Torino with the help of Russ Howard.
The match was closely contested, with Jacobs almost leveling the game in the 10th end. However, his final shot failed to achieve the desired result, allowing Gushue to secure the win. Despite the tension, Gushue expressed a mix of surprise and joy over the emotional weight of the victory.
Gushue’s team, which has previously clinched three Brier titles and a world championship, has been praised for its consistency and skill. The Trials saw a rare sight—Gushue’s team dressed in burnt-orange jerseys, a striking change from the traditional red-and-white of Team Canada.
In the women’s final earlier in the day, Jennifer Jones defeated Tracy Fleury 6-5 in an extra end, securing her place in the Beijing Games as well. Gallant, who is engaged to Jones’ team member Jocelyn Peterman, expressed his pride and excitement for both his fiancée and his own team’s achievement.
With a significant amount of competitive play still to come, including provincial playdowns and the Scotties and Brier tournaments, curling fans can look forward to more thrilling matches as teams prepare for the next Olympic quadrennial.
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