Fewer than 110 days until the start of the Paralympics in Milan Cortina, wheelchair curler Collinda Joseph feels more confident and free shooting rocks, which are delivered using a stick rather than gliding along the ice.
Four years ago, she was more limited in her role as an alternate at the Beijing Games. Then 56, she appeared in one game, but helped Canadaâs mixed team to a second consecutive bronze medal by offering feedback on how rocks were behaving on the ice to boosting her teammates’ spirits when they faced adversity.
Joseph had previously competed in her first provincial championship win in 2009 and captured her first Ontario title as a skip in 2016. She first represented Canada in 2019, the first of four world championships.
In China, Joseph quickly discovered the tough role of being an alternate.
âItâs tough because if youâre at that [Paralympic] level, youâre already a competitive person,â Joseph said Monday at CBC Sports headquarters in Toronto, where the Ottawa native was among five athletes named to Canadaâs wheelchair curling squad for the March 6-15 Games in Italy.
âYou want to be part of the team and be doing something you feel is a benefit to the team and part of a winning environment. Finding a way to do that as an alternate is incredibly difficult.â
This time, Joseph will be a starter as Canadaâs lead, joining skip Mark Ideson, second Ina Forrest, third Jon Thurston and alternate Gilbert Dash, a multiple national champion making his Paralympic debut.
âKnowing that Iâm named as the starting lead [for Milan-Cortina] leaves me in a position to be OK with some of the mistakes I make and any missed shots knowing I have another opportunity to make up for it. Itâs a much more comforting feeling,â she said.
As an alternate, Joseph told CBC Sports, itâs easy to lose confidence when youâre not sure of your status for the next game.
Canada head coach Mick Lizmore noted in many ways these Games will feel like the first for Joseph and Thurston, also appearing at his second Paralympics, since they will experience it with their own fans. The Covid pandemic prevented Canadians from attending the 2022 Paralympics.
âAs you get more exposure to a multi-sport Games, it becomes that much more comfortable to compete on the [world-class] stage,
