My Toughest Game At The Olympics – Sports Illustrated

You can put this on the record. Those guys are such great humans, such great people. Weve developed a great bond over the last few years and I was really looking forward to that journey with them.

John Morris is speaking passionately about the Australian mixed doubles team.

The two-time Olympic champion has one regret about the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Okaytwo regrets. The first is that he wont get to coach Australias youthful Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt in Beijing, as hes been doing all season. The second is that his upcoming battle against them, which is scheduled near the end of the mixed doubles round robin on Feb. 6, will take a toll on him.

This journey isnt over, even though I cant coach them there, but that will no doubt be my most difficult game to play at the Olympics, said Morris. I have trouble playing against great friends who I have a lot of respect for, and its hard for me to get that killer instinct with really good friends and I consider those two really good friends of mine.

So that will be my toughest game to play, mentally. But at the end of the day, Im wearing the red and white and Im playing for my country, and that trumps all.

Morris is following in his fathers footsteps. The famous curling coach nicknamed Earle the Pearlwho has coached both his son and Homans womens team in the pastalso coached the Australian mens team back in the mid-2000s, a squad that included Hewitts father.

In fact, that teamskipped by Hugh Milliken with Ian Palangio throwing last stonesmissed a shot to beat Randy Ferbey and knock him (and Pfeifer) out of the 2005 world playoffs in Victoria, B.C. The Canadians finished in a wild six-way tie at 8-3 and eventually won the championship.

That game in Beijing will be a great game to watch, no doubt, adds Morris. Theyve really developed a lot this year as curlers. Besides that game against them, Ill be cheering wholeheartedly for them.

Morris was with Gill and Hewitt at the Olympic Qualification Event in Leeuwarden, Netherlands in early December when the Aussies rolled to seven straight victories, including a sudden-death Olympic qualifier ov er Korea.

As Gillswinning stone settled and the Aussies began to celebrate, Morris grabbed fellow Australia coach Pete Manasantivongs in a reverse bear hug before dashing down to ice level.

Steve Seixeiro-WCF

Moments before, Gill and Hewitt had called a time out before their final throw. Morris suggested Gill throw a different turn on her winning stone, based on familiarity of the running path and speed. She took the advice and the shot wasexecutedperfectly.

We asked (Morris) to coach us because we wanted to be coached by the best, said Hewitt, 27. Were grateful he played a big part in helping us qualify for the Olympics. His experience and knowledge has been crucial for us growing as athletes.

Its so great to have a coach who you can go on adventures with off-ice too, and hes treated us like family.

Gill and Hewitt bade farewell to their friends and family members back in September of 2021, and have been based near Morris in Canmore, Alta. ever since. Even the appointment of Morris and mixed doubles teammate Rachel Homan to the Canadian Olympic Team hasnt changed the preparation routine very much.

If he stares, he cares Steve Seixeiro-WCF

Theyre still training with me, and we pretty much leave (for Beijing) on the same day, said Morris. Its perfect, weve even got some good hard games against them. Its almost like were training partners, which I think is ideal.

Morris has been sharing a cabin with Homan and Pfeifer in an isolated area of Canmore. Over the past two weeks the squads new Twitter feed has proudly displayed a variety of alternative Olympic training techniquesice fishing and snowshoeing among them.

Such is the high-performance life in a pandemic.

We knew it would be a high possibility we could be competing against John at the Olympics and we were prepared for it, said the 22-year-old Gill. We are so excited to compete against John and Rachel, I think it will be a really fun game. Theyre a great team and we always want to play against the best to get better ourselves.

Were having a really good time, keeping it light, said Morris back in December.

I think Canadians and Australians are kindred spirits that way. We enjoy a lot of the same things and are pretty laid back.

Its been a really good relationship and Im really proud of them.

Twitter

Morris is grateful to the Canmore Golf and Curling Club for providing the Canadians and Australians with private ice in isolation.

Its tough to find a great facility and great conditions, but here it is,Morris said.These friendly matches are helping get us both battle-ready in lieu of no trials or events leading up to the Olympics.

Departure is just a day or so away. How about some medal predictions, John?

No way, its such a deep field this year, Morris said. Its going to be such a great Games to watch. Every games going to be an absolute battle.

Read more from the original source:

My Toughest Game At The Olympics - Sports Illustrated