Ina Forrest can brush up on her Korean again.
The decorated wheelchair curler from Spallumcheen has been named to Team Canada that will compete at the 2024 World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Gangnueng, South Korea, March 2-9.
Forrest, who won bronze at the 2018 Paralympics in PyeongChang, will play third for Team Canada.
The squad will be skipped by Mark Ideson of London, Ont., who will throw lead rocks. Jon Thurston of Dunsford, Ont., will throw fourth stones and Gilbert Dash from Wolseley, Sask., will play second. Team fifth player is Chrissy Molnar of Trent Lakes, Ont.
The team is coached by Mick Lizmore.
Forrest and Canada will be among 12 mixed-gender teams competing in Gangneung. Forrest helped Canada win silver at the 2023 Worlds in Richmond. She is a three-time World Championship gold medalist (2009, 2011 and 2013). Forrest is also a four-time Paralympics medal winner, including gold in 2010 and 2014.
The World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship will immediately follow the World Wheelchair Curling Championship. Canada will be represented in mixed doubles by Collinda Joseph (Stittsville, Ont.) and Dennis Thiessen (Sanford, Man.). The duo of Joseph and Thiessen represented Canada last season and won bronze.
“After a thorough selection process, these athletes have earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the World Championships on the basis of their dedicated training and high-calibre play at competitions during the fall,” said Lizmore. “This year’s teams represent a mix of experience and newer players to the National Program. We are excited to attempt to build upon last year’s podium performances.”
Earlier this year, Canada expanded its NextGen Program, and Molnar, a new National Program athlete, will be wearing the Maple Leaf for the first time in international competition.
The Gangneung Curling Centre is a 3,500-seat multi-purpose venue that hosted the curling competitions of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as well as several World Curling Federation championships, including the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.
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