Early Women's Olympic Preview

This is early Olympic preview post 3 of 4. Stay tuned for the early Olympic qualifier preview coming in the near future. Meanwhile, you can read my mixed doubles preview here and my men's preview here

Welcome (or welcome back!) to the third edition of my early Olympic preview series. This time we'll be focusing on the women, so find a cosy spot and let's just jump into it!

Here is my Olympic Women's early preview/predictions:

Pictures courtesy of World Curling Federation.

Seed #1: Switzerland

Using the term 'consistency' to describe team Tirinzoni's performance is still an understatement. An incredible bubble run in Calgary started off with a final appearance in the Champions Cup followed by a semi-final finish at the Players'. However the team of Melanie Barbezat, Ester Neuenschwander, Silvana Tirinzoni, and fourth Alina Paetz only countered their slam results with their second consecutive world championship victory. The win marked a remarkable 5th championship for La Suisse in the last 7 editions. The Swiss Curling Association has designated team Tirinzoni as their Olympic team after the foursome reached the top two at Worlds (team De Cruz would've also punched their ticket to Beijing had they placed in the top two at the World Men's Championship). I find it fascinating how this team doesn't seem to be talked about much on the tour despite their astonishing consistency. Interesting enough, Tirinzoni's lone major blip in the last four years would be the 2018 Olympics in my opinion, where a slightly different team (notably before Paetz jumped ship) posted a disappointing 4-5 record to miss the playoffs. I'm sure this team will live up to their standards come February and will no doubt be in the hunt for a medal. Hopp schwiiz!

Representative: Team Silvana Tirinzoni (fifth to be chosen at a later date)

Seed #2: Russian Olympic Committee

As I said in my men's preview, it's safe to say that the Russian Curling Federation surprised us during both championships held in Calgary. However, any knowledgeable curling fan wouldn't be too surprised that Alina Kovaleva with Yulia Portunova at third, Galina Arsenkina, and Ekaterina Kuzmina did as well as they did. Kovaleva at the skip position has been around near the top of the Order of Merit for the past few years despite not competing in high level events like the slams on a routine basis. All four have been on and off with a few different skips including Sidorova and Moiseeva leading up to this Olympic quadrennial. They've finally found their sweet spot in 2021; the squad made the quarterfinals in the Champions Cup and missed the playoff round at the Players' Championship only to play stellar through the entire women's championship to finish with a silver medal. Although the name Kovaleva may not be the most familiar to the casual fan as of yet, counting them out of the medal hunt would be a crime. They don't quite have the same amount of experience as the Swiss, but they've shown they can perform well under pressure. It isn't quite clear when or how the Russian Curling Federation will announce its representative as they have experimented with a few different combinations over the years. But one thing's for certain, and that is that it's team Kovaleva's time to shine.

Front-Runners for Selection/Trials: Team Alina Kovaleva

Seed #3: United States

Team Peterson has been around for quite a while and are definitely known worldwide, but many would argue that this was yet another surprise to come out of the bubble. On paper, Tara Peterson, Becca Hamilton, Nina Roth, and Tabitha Peterson were always one of the top teams this year, but weren't always expected to medal. Perhaps a bronze medal was even sweeter after the team missed the playoffs during both slam events held prior (although it was the first time the team had hit the ice since lockdown started). The USCA will hold their Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska from November 13-21. The team skipped by Nina Roth won the right to represent America in 2018 after defeating another potential representative in Jamie Sinclair. Sinclair has a new lineup this time around with Elizabeth Cousins, Cora Farrell, and veteran Monica Walker. The top three teams are rounded out with Cory Christensen's lineup of Vicky Persinger and twins Sarah and Taylor Anderson. Teams Peterson and Christensen hail from Minnesota while Sinclair's homebase is in North Carolina.  Although the US was never really considered a curling powerhouse, steam is certainly picking up in the lead up to 2022. Could the USA replicate 2018's miracurl and touch the heart of Americans nationwide? I think a medal is definitely in reach for whoever wins the trials. 

Front-Runners for Trials: Team Tabitha Peterson

Top Teams for Trials: Teams Jamie Sinclair and Cory Christensen

Seed #4: Sweden

The reigning Olympic gold-medallists in the fourth seed? Who would've thought? It's fair to say that Team Hasselborg may be the team that us curling fans have the absolute highest expectations for. It's also fair to say that their bubble run wasn't exactly their most stellar, at least compared to their standards. Sofia Mabergs, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sara McManus, and skipper Anna Hasselborg opened their previous season winless at the Champions Cup but quickly rebounded reaching the semis at the Players'. The team had a rather smooth, but sometimes inconsistent 10-3 run in the round robin of the world championship, before handing the Americans a convincing win in the bronze medal match to finish off the podium. This team often dominates straight from the get-go, although I wouldn't be too surprised if they start off slow this season from the Masters slam onwards. However, I don't have a doubt that they will continue to impress and should pick up steam around the winter months. Although not advancing to the final this past worlds, this fairly young team still has the experience and knowledge of how to get to an Olympic final. I'm not sure if I'd be surprised if Hasselborg and Co. pull of a second rendition of a Swedish special: that is, replicating Anette Norberg's iconic and mind-boggling defence of her Olympic title in 2010 after her gold four years before in Turin. Time will tell!

Representative: Team Anna Hasselborg with fifth Johanna Heldin

Seed #5: Denmark

Although not being talked about much during the week, the veteran Dupont sisters find yet another way to creep up on the elite tour teams. The five-woman squad of Lina Knudsen, My Larsen, Denise Dupont, Mathilde Halse, and Madeleine Dupont hail from around Copenhagen. The team qualified for PyeongChang 2018 through the dreaded Olympic Qualification Event in 2017 after a hugely dramatic final. Fifth place at this year's worlds is a great result for the Danes after a disappointing last place finish in Korea and an 11th place finish at 2019's edition of women's world championship. Although Larsen and Halse are the youth of the team both at age 22, the Dupont duo have participated in both the 2010 (where they placed 5th) and 2018 Winter Games, so there will no lack of experience. Many can agree that Denmark may have been the biggest surprise in 2021, showing that the team certainly has the ability to contend at the top. However, I do think that this team may need to reach its highest peak in the past four years in February in order to have a chance to replicate their success this year. I don't quite know the qualification process in Denmark, but Team Dupont is certainly the prime representative this time around.

Front-Runners for Selection/Trials: Team Madeleine Dupont

Seed #6: Canada

As was the case with the men, don't panic just yet, Canada! I unquestionably agree that Team Kerri Einarson were worthy reps of the maple leaf in Calgary. The idea of staying inside a contained bubble for that long was a feat in itself making it evident that the team ran out of gas. The Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings will run from November 20-28 at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. Four women's teams have qualified so far including Einarson, along with Team Rachel Homan, Team Tracy Fleury, and Team Jennifer Jones. I'd imagine that the odds for these four teams alone would almost hit 90%, putting Canada in great hands. Curling Canada have introduced an extensive qualification process leading up to the November trials consisting of a pre-trials direct entry, a trials direct entry, and the normal pre-trials event slated for Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Just like any major Canadian bonspiel, it'll be hard to identify a single favourite. Of course Einarson had an outstanding bubble with their Scotties defence, a slam title, a fair showing at the Worlds, and a final finish in September's Sherwood Park Classic. Also not to mention Kerri's mixed doubles triumph with Brad Gushue. Rachel Homan has now made three Scotties finals, holds the other slam title of 2021, and have remained consistent for years on end with two quarterfinal results so far thus season. Tracy Fleury (who only played in the one slam) and her team had a somewhat disappointing record in Calgary finishing 8th in the Scotties as well as a semifinal finish at the Champions Cup. However, they have picked up steam fast this season with two wins already under their belt in Oakville and Sherwood Park. We all know that Jennifer Jones has been on a decline losing the tiebreaker at the Hearts and failing to make the playoffs at the Slams. They have made the semifinals two times in Oakville in September, but many could argue the strength of those fields wasn't that strong. Nevertheless, they'll still be in the crosshairs of another Olympic dream.

Front-Runners for Trials: Team Kerri Einarson, Team Rachel Homan, Team Tracy Fleury, Team Jennifer Jones

Top Teams for Trials: Team Laura Walker, Team Casey Scheidegger, Team Kelsey Rocque, Team Corryn Brown, Team Suzanne Birt (all must qualify through Pre-Trials Direct Entry or Pre-Trials events)

Host Country: China

Although not making as big of an impact then their Pacific-Asia rivals of South Korea and Japan, China may just be slowly regaining momentum that they had some few years ago. Straight outta juniors skip Han Yu stunned many in Calgary with a 6-7 record which at least is impressive by my standards, with a very young skip and relatively inexperienced team. This young team beat the likes of Hasselborg and Muirhead en route to that record. Speaking of the Pacific-Asia region, this very team with Dong Ziqi at third, Zhang Lijun, and Jiang Xindi at lead won that championship in 2019 under the guidance of national coach Peja Lindholm, who notably improved the program in his native country of Sweden dramatically. The country has been rebuilding their elite program after veteran and world champion Wang Bingyu (who is part of the planning process of Beijing 2022) retired a short while ago. Recent results show average placings at the world championship with a 7th place finish in 2018, a 6th result in 2019, and a three-way tie for 8th this past season. Considering that '18 and '19 had thirteen teams and '21 had fourteen, China will still have some work to do if they want to impress a local crowd. China will have a selection process by choosing their best curlers with all four of the aforementioned players certainly in the running.

Early Ranking Prediction w/ Countries Already Qualified:

🥇Switzerland

🥈Canada

🥉Sweden

 4  Russian Olympic Committee

 5  United States

 6  China

 7  Denmark

Following the disappointment for Canada last season, I am predicting a healthy rebound. However I do think that Switzerland will continue their reign of victory and nab that gold medal. Hasselborg will come close, but not quite close enough to defend her title. Considering the world rankings, the Russians and Americans will do somewhat well and end up near the top four. China may get a bit of a home nation boost and win some thrillers against the favourites, but won't crack the top four. 

At least in my opinion, the nations that haven't qualified yet on the women's side seem stronger than their male counterparts. We still have the powerhouses of South Korea, Japan, and Great Britain who will go to The Netherlands for the OQE in early December. Interesting enough, these nations (who will most likely all have the returning team and/or skip) placed second, third, and fourth respectively in 2018. Even throw in Germany and veteran Jentsch who have done well early this season and ranking predictions become even noticeably more difficult. But we'll touch upon that in another early preview!

 

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