Team Canada in the moment of becoming Paralympic champions © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Author

World Curling Media

14 March 2026

Canada win wheelchair mixed team gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Canada were crowned wheelchair mixed team Paralympic champions after ending an undefeated campaign by beating People’s Republic of China in the final, 4-3.

Canada versus Team China for gold

Reigning Paralympic champions, Team China met 2022 bronze medallists Canada in a packed Cortina Olympic Stadium on Saturday to decide who will take home gold medals in wheelchair mixed team curling.

After blanking the first end, Canada scored one in the second following a draw to the four-foot by Mark Ideson. In the third, Wang Haitao executed a hit-and-stick for one, 1-1.

In the fourth, Ideson’s last draw was light, and Canada had to settle for one, instead of scoring two. Canada were leading 2-1 at the break.

In the fifth, Canada forced Team China to take one and tie the game, 2-2. Then, Ideson had to make a hit-and-stick for one, which he made no mistake with, 3-2 after six.

Team China © World Curling / Will Palmer

In a back-and-forth seventh end Team China only scored a single, as Wang was heavy with his last draw, 3-3.

In a thrilling eighth end, Ideson’s first stone landed in the four-foot, but the teams were unsure whether it would outcount the previously shot Team China stone.

Wang’s last tap attempt wasn’t successful, and Canada had less than a minute to decide what to play with Ideson’s last stone.

Wang Haitao © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Their vice-skip, Jon Thurston, urged Ideson to angle tap their own. With 2.8 seconds remaining on the clock, he did just that, and Canada became Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic champions, 4-3.

After the game, Ideson said, “It was a lot of confusion. We weren’t 100% sure if we were shot rock or not, and the clock was running down and rather than leave it up to chance, we had to make the shot.”

Reflecting on how this Paralympic victory compares to the one in 2014, he added, “My role was different in Sochi. I was there as an alternate and obviously part of the team, but different role. I got to play three games in Sochi which I’m incredibly proud of, that started the whole Paralympic bug.

“To be part of this team was incredible. Incredible group of people, never give up, no quit, resilient to the end. And just super grateful to have been part of this group.”

Mark Ideson after his last shot © World Curling / Will Palmer

Sharing his gold medal feelings, Jon Thurston said, “I’m speechless. This has been our goal the whole quad, pure joy. I’m super happy, super proud of this team, we were resilient all week and undefeated, won the gold. It was great, we had to bring our best game, it was great to win the gold.”

Talking about Ideson’s last stone, he added, “Obviously, we were tight on time, I was able to look at the stone in the house and also on the screen, I did think we were shot, but I don’t want us to lose the Paralympics because I get to guess wrong.

“So, we were trying to communicate, know we have to throw a shot, trying to decide on the weight, trying to communicate with a time crunch and all the noise at the venue, but thankfully Mark threw a pistol and was able to tap us and make sure we were shot to win the gold. Mark just did it all week for us. He’s a great leader and super proud of him and this whole team. I won’t forget this experience.”

2026 Paralympic champion Jon Thurston © World Curling / Will Palmer

With his gold medal, Ina Forrest became the most decorated wheelchair curler in Paralympic history with three gold medal and two bronzes, medalling at every event that was held in wheelchair mixed team curling.

Ina Forrest in the gold medal game © World Curling / Ansis Ventins

Reflecting on that, she said, “It means that I’ve been on some fantastic teams and had amazing teammates, because it’s a team sport, that’s the only way to get a gold medal. This team has worked so hard in the last four years, that includes our staff and everybody that’s behind us. We’ve taken all the learnings that we’ve got over the four years and brought them to this moment. And that’s what put us over the top.”

Team China’s Li Nana said, “I feel proud of my team and that we can bring back a medal to China.”

Regarding her overall experience at the Games, she added, “Cortina is very beautiful, I like the weather here and the people are very kind.”

The Paralympic champion Canadian team are skip Mark Ideson, third Jon Thurston, second Ina Forrest and lead Collinda Joseph, supported by alternate Gilbert Dash and coach Mick Lizmore.

The Paralympic silver medallist People’s Republic of China team are skip Wang Haitao, third Chen Jianxin, second Zhang Mingliang and lead Li Nana, supported by alternate Zhang Qiang and coach Yue Qingshuang.

Sweden won bronze medals on Friday after defeating Team Korea, 7-4.