Tracy Fleury's Olympic Debut at 39 Highlights Team Homan's Victory Over Denmark
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — For Canadian curler Tracy Fleury, stepping onto the Olympic ice at the Milan-Cortina Games was a moment of profound significance. At 39 years old, Fleury finally made her Olympic debut as the third for Team Rachel Homan, contributing to a decisive 10-4 rout of Denmark in the women's bonspiel opener on Thursday.
A Long-Awaited Olympic Dream Realized
Fleury's path to the Olympics was marked by resilience and determination. In 2021, she experienced heartbreak at the Canadian trials, falling just one stone short of representing Canada in the Beijing Games. As a celebrated skip at the time, the loss was particularly devastating, leading her to consider stepping away from competitive curling altogether.
"It was definitely hard being so close, but I also tried to use that disappointment as motivation," Fleury reflected after the match against Denmark. "Knowing you're close is helpful."
From Setback to Success with Team Homan
After the tough loss to Jennifer Jones in the trials, where Team Fleury went undefeated but lost on the last stone in an extra end, Fleury joined Team Homan in 2022. Her coach at the time, Sherry Middaugh, recalled a poignant moment at the airport the day after the loss, where Fleury asked, "How do you get over this?" Middaugh's response was honest: "You know, you don't. Hard reality."
This transition proved transformative. As part of Team Homan, Fleury has helped the squad become back-to-back world champions and the No. 1 ranked team globally heading into the Cortina bonspiel. On Thursday, she was the most accurate curler on the ice, making a game-leading 82 percent of her shots.
Dominant Performance Against Denmark
Team Homan showcased their world-class form from the start, stealing four points in the fifth end to extend their lead to 7-3. Denmark's Team Madeleine Dupont struggled to recover, ultimately conceding the match in the seventh end when the outcome was clear.
"When we put this team together four years ago, this was our goal to be here right now," Fleury said, emphasizing the collective effort. "So we're just really proud of all the hard work that we've put in the past four years to get to this moment."
Looking Ahead to Future Matches
With the opening victory secured, Canada's next challenge is a match against Team U.S.A. on Friday. The team's strong performance and Fleury's personal milestone set a positive tone for their Olympic campaign, highlighting the dedication and perseverance required to compete at the highest level of international curling.
Fleury's story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that Olympic dreams can be realized at any age with persistence and teamwork. As the games continue, all eyes will be on Team Homan as they aim to build on this promising start.
