‘It feels amazing’: London, Ont. curler qualifies for her first Olympic Games

Londoner Sarah Wilkes is heading to her first Olympic Games. CTV's Brent Lale catches up with her following her win at the Canadian Curling Trials.

Sarah Wilkes has vivid memories of watching the Winter Olympics and dreaming of being a member of Team Canada.

“I was in grade six or something and I had the chickenpox, and I was home during the whole Olympics,” said Wilkes. “I got to watch all the Winter Olympics and that was kind of a moment where it’s like, ‘Hey, I want to do that.’”

Her dream came true this weekend when Team Rachel Homan won the Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax, N.S. to book their ticket to Italy as Team Canada.

Team Homan—which includes skip Rachel Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, and alternate Rachelle Brown—won two straight games over Team Black to take the best-of-three women’s final. That capped a week in which the top-ranked women’s team in the world lost just one game.

“We got this a couple days ago and it kind of made it feel a little less surreal and a little more real,” Wilkes said referring to her Lululemon Team Canada jacket. “Now that we won, we can really focus on that gold.”

At Highland Community Curling Club (HCCC), the members and the board are so excited that one of their curlers is going to the Olympics.

“A good example of that [support] was at the trials, we probably had 40 or 50 of our own members travel to Halifax to take in the trials and watch it,” said Tom Jones, president of HCCC. “That’s a good example of what’s going to come for the Olympics.”

Wilkes’ family are all members of HCCC. Her husband, in-laws, and nephews are all very involved and supportive of the club.

“There’s a real level of support around the whole Homan team and to have one of our own on that team and going to the Olympics is extremely exciting,” added Jones.

Homan and Miskew have been to the Olympics before and have been able to speak to their newer teammates on what the experience will be like.

Team Canada will be ranked number one. However, the competition is going to be difficult and ice conditions at international events are always interesting.

“I want to enjoy the experience, because you never know if you’re going to get back,” said Wilkes. “I want to just to get it on the ice, feel the ice, have the competition against these incredible teams and just see what happens.”

Until that competition begins, Wilkes and her teammates have returned home to their respective cities which include Ottawa, Sudbury, and Edmonton for much needed rest.

“We have like 65 days or something until we leave,” said Wilkes. “Definitely take a moment right now and enjoy it, recover but then get right back to our training and preparing for the Olympic Games.”