The 2021 Canadian Olympic Mixed Doubles Curling Trials in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba has been cancelled due to coronavirus according to the Canadian Press on Sunday. The cancellation came after a rise of athletes tested positive for coronavirus prior to the tournament and the risk of acquiring coronavirus in traveling to Manitoba. The event was to feature 16 teams with the winner to represent Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Now the team will be selected by Canadian Olympic officials rather than determined on the ice. Representatives from Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Curling Canada are expected to make a determination in the very near future. The team that should be considered the favourite to represent Canada is John Morris of Canmore, Alberta, and Rachel Homan of Ottawa, Ontario. Morris won Olympic gold in mixed doubles curling with Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg, Manitoba age the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, while Homan was spectacular in representing Canada at the 2017 World Women’s Curling Championship in Beijing. Homan’s team ever was the first women’s curling team to be perfect (13-0) in the history of the World Women’s Curling Championship. Canada’s first game in mixed doubles curling at the 2022 Olympic Games is on February 2 with a 6pm MT start time against Great Britain.
