After being the third on Canada's first Gold medal winning women's curling team since the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, Olympic champion Kaitlyn Lawes visited Yorkton on part of her tour with Canadian Tire to take pictures and autographs with the fans of Yorkton as well as to talk about her Olympic experiences with the city.
Lawes says that the post-Sochi experience has been a surreal one. "I don't know if it will ever sink in, it has been a crazy experience and to refer to myself as an Olympic Gold medalist will never sink in," says Lawes.
She also mentioned that the support from the Canadians since returning home has been a surprise. "Everyone who notices you is quick to congratulate us and it is just special to enjoy in this Canadian moment in a country that loves the game of curling."
During the Olympic games Lawes says that the support of the Canadians on social media and the feeling of the Canadian support helped push them to Gold and has motivated her to share the moment with those across the country.
"While we were in Russia you would get messages of support everyday whether physical messages or through social media showing just how much Canada was behind us and once I got home seeing the faces of children holding the gold medal in awe has definitely inspired me to share the moment," mentions Lawes.
Lawes stop in Yorkton came has part of a three stop tour with Goldline Curling and Canadian Tire part of a busy circuit of events since coming home.
"It has definitely been pretty busy and we have been filled up almost every week with various events and a lot of media," says Lawes who also says that the added spotlight and love from the country is definitely not a negative.
"It is nice to see just how big of a deal us winning Gold has been and how proud the country has been and we never quite expected it to blow up like it has been so this has been amazing," says Lawes.
As part of her tour Lawes says that she loves to share her medal with the Canadian fans. "People love to see the medal and I enjoy seeing the joy in the faces of Canadians who get to enjoy seeing the medal so seeing their faces and their pride taking a picture with it so I love to share the medal and I always bring it with me to share with the Canadians."
Talking about her Olympic experiences, Lawes mentioned that some of the best parts of being at Sochi involved getting to be around all of the athletes at the games and attend different events. "Being at the Olympics you are surrounded by your country's athletes as well as the best athletes in the world at what they do so feeding off that vibe was an experience I will never forget."
Lawes also made sure to mention winning with her teammates as one of the special parts of he whole Olympic ride.
"Getting to win the Gold with some of the best curlers in the country including someone who is as accomplished and as talented as Jennifer Jones was amazing and I will never forget getting to share that moment with that rink and my teammates in representing our country to a Gold medal so everything has just been so special for me."
