Bronze medallist grilled by Riley reporters

By Bruce Campbell
Times Editor
Wednesday March 29, 2006

While Bruce Campbell wrote the following article, the responses from Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink were the result of hard-hitting questions from Karen Andrews’ Grade 6 class at Senator Riley middle school. Andrews has curled with Kleibrink at the Nanton Meatspiel and the Highwood Mixed Bonspiel.

Shannon Kleibrink had a hot news tips for Senator Riley school journalists — sure winning a bronze medal in curling at the XXth Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy is great, but gee, sometimes you have no idea who your neighbours are.

“There was this hockey player staying in the apartment right next to us,” Kleibrink told the 25 students. “It was this real nice, big tall bald guy. We went out to eat with him at the Olympic Village and we got to know him. At the end of the week, my husband joined me and I said to the hockey player: ‘Oh, hi, how are you?’ — I still didn’t know his name. And my husband says: ‘That’s Matt Sundin.’”

“He (Sundin) and Peter Forsberg were in the apartment right next to us.”

Kleibrink was under the scrutiny of Karen Andrews’ Grade 6 students on March 22 about what life at the Olympics was like. The young scribes went beyond the stereotypical question like what it feels like to win the bronze medal?– tougher questions like “How much is a medal worth?”

“They must be worth a little bit,” said Kleibrink who was the skip of Canada’s women’s team consisting of Kleibrink, Amy Nixon, Glenys Bakker, Christine Keshen, and Sandra Jenkins. “Because as soon as you won a medal you were assigned a bodyguard. Well, we had four extra days after we won our bronze medal at the Olympics. They didn’t tell us we would have bodyguard — and because we are Canadians we didn’t even think of it. We went shopping and this guy was following us all the way to Torino (Turin) — we thought we had this stalker. So we phoned security at the Olympic Village and told them we have this guy following us everywhere we go. They said: ‘Of course, you do, that’s your police guard.’”

While Kleibrink was acutely aware of how her curling team did, she was too busy to know how the Canadians — like the highly publicized men’s hockey team, were doing.

“We had just won our curling game — it was sort of a nothing game — and there was this big media scrum,” Kleibrink said. “I was asked specifically to attend the scrum. All the lights were on me, they put a mike in front of my face and asked me: “How do you feel about the men’s failure?’

“I said : ‘What men?’ (Canada had just lost 2-0 to Russia).

“That was one of the most difficult things was trying to keep track of how the Canadians were doing.”
She said she is now watching video highlights of the Games — because she couldn’t watch much of the action while she was actually in Torino.

These Riley reporters were on the ball. They knew sometimes stereotypical questions are good– how did it feel to receive an Olympic bronze medal after beating Norway 11-5 on Feb. 23?

“The most fun experience was receiving our medals,” Kleibrink said. “We were taken by police escort and when we walked out on the stage, we couldn’t believe it — all you could see were people – which is amazing because there were no Italians receiving medals at that ceremony… It was like being a rock star for the night.”

Receiving the bronze on behalf of her country — especially after her team battled sickness — was a major highlight for Kleibrink, but so was receiving something else in Turino.

“One of the very best things about Italy is the gelato,” Kleibrink said. “Every night we would try a different gelato. For some reason, everybody in Italy likes Canadians. We would go into the store and they would give us gelato and have their pictures taken with us.”

© 2006 High River Times

Source

Heads Up Via

winnipegsun.com – Curling – Oly grind is all worth it now

By JIM BENDER, STAFF REPORTER

LONDON, Ont. — Glenys Bakker returned to her Calgary home to hug her infant daughter, who had no clue that her mom had just won Olympic bronze in Italy.

“When I got home and she (Sara) saw me, her eyes were like two big saucers,” Bakker recalled here yesterday. “She just kind of looked at me and I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve been away too much.’

“That was probably the biggest reason why I wasn’t playing well. I wasn’t completely there. Part of my heart was back home.”

All tolled, Bakker was away from home for about 80 days pursuing an Olympic curling medal for Canada.

“I actually felt like I sacrificed a lot, and to win this actually seemed to make it worthwhile,” said Bakker, second for Shannon Kleibrink, whose entire team was flown into the Scott Tournament of Hearts to be recognized by the crowd and fellow competitors at the John Labatt Centre last night.

“I will be awfully surprised if I ever get another chance to win another Olympic medal, realistically, in Canada. It was such a sweet feeling, a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

BATTLED

And don’t tell any of them that they won “just a bronze.”

“I would challenge them to do what we did, to battle through sickness and play those teams, and we are so happy with the bronze,” said lead Christine Keshen, who fought some kind of virus. “Considering what we went through, and to win that last game, it feels like more than that to us. I don’t think anyone can say, ‘It’s only a bronze.’ ”

Third Amy Nixon, who also battled a virus, would have some choice words for anyone who would suggest that.

“First thing I’d say, right off the top, that it’s a lot of hard work for this bronze,” she said. “A bronze medal is an accomplishment and, as I get older, I think it will feel even better. Obviously, there’s still some residual regret about not getting a little bit better than that.

“For a 28-year-old who had never won a Canadian championship and had never gone to a Canadian junior, it’s not bad.”

And all four will cherish those special moments on the podium where they were presented with their medals at an outdoor plaza.

“When I got up there, it was so bright, there were so many lights and cameras and people as far as you could see,” Keshen said. “That was just powerful. I just felt so, ‘Yes, thank God we’re here.’

“After I got off the podium, I broke down completely. I was a mess. It was suddenly, ‘Oh my God, it’s over, we did this. Finally, we’re done.’”

Nixon will always remember being on the podium with her dad, Daryl, the team’s coach.

“That will be one that will be able to evoke emotion from me for a while,” she said.

“The podium and the night after the podium was pretty overwhelming,” Kleibrink said. “It was like being a rock star for a day.”

Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.

TheStar.com – Kleibrink ponders makeup of 2010 team

Mar. 4, 2006. 01:00 AM

LONDON, Ont.—Olympic curling bronze medallist Shannon Kleibrink has the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver in her sights but she’s not sure her team will remain the same.

“We haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk about that. I know I’m going to be trying but I don’t know if it will be the four of us or what,” Kleibrink told the Star yesterday before meeting fans at the Scott Tournament of Hearts.

Kleibrink and teammates Amy Nixon, Glenys Bakker and Christine Keshen were all in good health after travelling here from their Calgary-area homes. Several were afflicted with bacterial-related illnesses in Italy.

“Amy, Christine, my husband and several spectators all got really sick,” Kleibrink said. “It didn’t affect me, thank goodness. We don’t think it was food poisoning. It was a bacterial infection that lasted the entire time we played.”

Kleibrink blamed the health woes on non-pasteurized dairy products and said she spent the final five days eating salads at McDonald’s.

Reflecting on the Olympic experience, Kleibrink said if the team could do it all over again “the first thing we’d do is pack another suitcase of Canadian food.”

She said she hasn’t thrown a single stone since the bronze medal game and finds it difficult to get any time to herself.

“I come from a small town — 14,000 in Okotoks — and I think 13,999 of them know me now. I went to the grocery store the other day and it took a couple of hours. Down every aisle, they all stop and want an autograph. It’s fun, though.”

Kleibrink said the team was happy to be a part of Canada’s 24-medal performance.

“We were cheering at the TV for sports that we’ve never seen before,” she said, adding, “To have any Olympic medal is a dream so I’m not disappointed.”

Added Nixon: “Canadians have to realize there are some other countries with really, really good teams,” a reference to the gold medal Swedish women’s team.

Brian McAndrew

Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved

From their official site and “Coach Daryl’s Diary” pages …

Team Arrivals

Coach Daryl’s Diary

The Team will receive their bronze medals in the Medals Plaza in Torino on the evening of Saturday February 25 sometime between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Torino time.

We have a team e-mail address teamkleibrink@yahoo.ca You can send e-mail messages to the team at this address. I will have a laptop computer with me and we will be able to access e-mail while in Pinerolo for sure.

Anyone requesting appearance appointments for one or members of the team should contact Paul Webster (Canadian Curling Association) by e-mail.

TEAM ARRIVAL BACK IN CANADA

Shannon, Amy, Christine and Glenys……Monday February 27 at Calgary International Airport at 8:20 p.m. on Air Canada Flight 153.

Daryl….Monday February 27 at Edmonton International Airport at 9:47 p.m. on West Jet Flight 655.

Sandra….Monday, February 27 at Kelowna Airport at 10:40 p.m.. Air Canada flight originating out of Vancouver.

Wish I was there but, I’m over here two provinces over .. I wonder how big the crowds will be?

You should go! (if you are in the neighborhood anyway…)

FINAL SCORE: Canada 11, Norway 5

Here’s How it went:

END 1 – CAN 4, NOR 0
END 2 – CAN 5, NOR 0
END 3 – CAN 5, NOR 1
END 4 – CAN 5, NOR 2
END 5 – CAN 9, NOR 2
END 6 – CAN 9, NOR 4
END 7 – CAN 11, NOR 4
END 8 – CAN 11, NOR 5
(concession after the 8th end)

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM CANADA WOMEN!

Congratulations Team Kleibrink!
It was great watching you play in the Olympics!

Skip – Shannon Kleibrink
3rd – Amy Nixon
2nd – Glenys Bakker
Lead – Christine Keshen
Alternate – Sandra Jenkins
Coach – Daryl Nixon

That now brings Canada’s Medal count to 18 .. Go Canada Go!

The women’s final GOLD game (Sweden vs Switzerland) will be later today at 17:30 local time (11:30 am ET)

CBC News

CBC.CA – Torino 2006 – Curling – Headlines – Kleibrink reaches curling playoffs

Shannon Kleibrink prevailed 9-8 over Denmark in a tense round-robin finale at Pinerolo. (CP Photo/Andrew Vaughan)

Last Updated: Tue Feb 21 02:20:58 EST 2006
CBC Sports

Canada’s Shannon Kleibrink used a patchwork rink to reach the playoffs in women’s curling at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

Kleibrink, who curls out of Calgary, needed a clutch shot on last rock in the 10th end to get past Dorthe Holm of Denmark 9-8 and clinch the final berth in the medal round at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres from Turin.

Canada completed the round-robin in fourth place at 6-3 and will face Switzerland in Wednesday’s semifinals (8 a.m. EST).

“We’re going to have to be a lot better than we were out here tonight,” Kleibrink told CBC Sports. “It was a bit messy out there so we’re gonna go practising tomorrow and come out firing on Wednesday.”

Sweden meets Norway in the other semi.

Amy Nixon’s nagging stomach virus forced Canada to juggle its lineup on Monday, moving Glenys Bakker from second to third and inserting alternate Sandra Jenkins as second.

Denmark grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening end, but Kleibrink capitalized on a couple of key misses by Holm to earn three on a free draw in the second.

Holm responded in kind in the third but Kleibrink answered right back, drawing to the back of the four-foot for three to lead 6-5 through four.

Kleibrink split the rings in the sixth and stole one when Holm’s final delivery hit but rolled out.

Holm made amends in the seventh, nudging a Canadian rock off the button with a nifty double-raise to score one and trail 7-6.

Canada’s sweepers then brushed Kleibrink’s soft draw far enough to earn a single point in the eighth, but Holm replied with a deuce on an open draw to tie it 8-8 through nine.

with files from CP Online

Copyright © CBC 2006

CBC.CA – Torino 2006 – Curling – Headlines

Last Updated: Sun Feb 19 15:29:19 EST 2006
CBC Sports

Shannon Kleibrink improved to 5-3 with an 11-4 triumph over host Italy on Sunday. (CP Photo/Andrew Vaughan)

Canadian curler Shannon Kleibrink rebounded from a shocking loss to Japan by thumping Italy 11-4 at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

Kleibrink, whose rink curls out of Calgary, improved to 5-3 with Sunday’s nine-end triumph at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres from Turin.

Sweden (7-1) and Switzerland (6-2) have guaranteed themselves playoff berths with Canada and Norway (5-2) also in position to clinch.

The top four teams advance to the medal round with first-ranked rink facing the fourth and the second taking on the third.

Italy dropped to a tournament-worst 1-7 as skip Diana Gaspari struggled mightily, posting an accuracy rate of 49 per cent.

By comparison, Kleinbrink curled at a 75 per cent clip.

Kleibrink led 5-0 through three ends, opening with a single point and scoring deuces in both the second and third.

Kleinbrink drew inside for a steal of two to go ahead 7-2 in the fifth, but Gaspari got one back with a hit and stick on last rock in the sixth.

Lying two in the seventh, Gaspari put Kleibrink on the defensive by closing the lone port to the button with a high guard.

Kleibrink had no choice but to erase one Italian rock with a straight hit and concede the single point.

Kleibrink drew to the button for two in the eighth, then closed out the contest with a steal of two in the ninth.

Elsewhere, Switzerland scored three in the 10th to edge the United States 9-8, Japan stunned defending Olympic champion Rhona Martin of Great Britain 10-5 and Russia toppled Denmark 9-7.

In the men’s draw, Finland joined Great Britain and the United States in the medal round by virtue of a 7-4 victory over host Italy.

Canada’s Brad Gushue currently holds the upper hand on the fourth and final playoff berth, sitting fourth at 4-3 heading into Sunday’s game against winless New Zealand (0-7).

with files from CP Online
Copyright © CBC 2006

Here’s how Team Canada’s Game went against Great Britain

END 1 – GBR 0, CAN 0
END 2 – GBR 0, CAN 2
END 3 – GBR 0, CAN 3
END 4 – GBR 0, CAN 4
END 5 – GBR 2, CAN 4
END 6 – GBR 2, CAN 4
END 7 – GBR 2, CAN 5
END 8 – GBR 3, CAN 5
END 9 – GBR 3, CAN 9
(concession after 9th)

GBR – 3
CAN – 9
(concession after 9th end)

FINAL: Canada 9, Great Britain 3
Results

THESE ARE GAME 5 RESULTS AGAINST NORWAY

Canada vs Norway

END 1 – CAN 0, NOR 1
END 2 – CAN 2, NOR 1
END 3 – CAN 2, NOR 3
END 4 – CAN 4, NOR 3
END 5 – CAN 4, NOR 5
END 6 – CAN 5, NOR 5
END 7 – CAN 5, NOR 6
END 8 – CAN 8, NOR 6
END 9 – CAN 10, NOR 6
END 10 – CAN 10, NOR 8

FINAL: Canada 10, Norway 8
Results

Canada vs Russian Federation

END 1 – CAN 0, RUS 0
END 2 – CAN 0, RUS 0
END 3 – CAN 1, RUS 0
END 4 – CAN 1, RUS 1
END 5 – CAN 1, RUS 2
END 6 – CAN 3, RUS 2
END 7 – CAN 3, RUS 3
END 8 – CAN 5, RUS 3
END 9 – CAN 5, RUS 5
END 10 – CAN 6, RUS 5

FINAL SCORE: Canada 6, Russian Federation 5
Results

By the way – it came down to the last rock – Shannon just drew it to the 4ft for the win

Shannon Kleibrink (Team Canada) versus Cassie Johnson (Team USA) .. RESULTS

At the end of…

END 1 – CAN 5, USA 0
END 2 – CAN 6, USA 0
END 3 – CAN 6, USA 1
END 4 – CAN 7, USA 1
END 5 – CAN 7, USA 3
END 6 – CAN 10, USA 3
END 7 – CAN 10, USA 5
END 8 – CAN 11, USA 5
(concession after 8th end)

FINAL Score … Canada 11, United States 5

CAN = Team Canada
USA = United States