Canada’s Homan tops Switzerland’s Tirinzoni to capture second straight world title
And still world champion: Canada’s Team Homan defeated Switzerland’s Team Tirinzoni 7-3 in Sunday’s final at the world women’s curling championship in Uijeongbu, South Korea.
The Ottawa-based club of skip Rachel Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew and lead Sarah Wilkes became the first Canadian team to win back-to-back gold medals at the women’s worlds since Sandra Schmirler’s squad in 1993 and 1994.
Canada finished round-robin play in third place with a 10-2 record, losing to Scotland and host South Korea. Oddly enough, those were the two teams that Homan had to face in the playoffs to reach the final once again. The revenge tour was on as Canada downed Scotland 10-4 and edged South Korea 6-5 in an extra end Saturday.
The Swiss squad of skip Silvana Tirinzoni, fourth Alina Paetz, second Carole Howald and lead Selina Witschonke were looking to avenge a loss to Homan in last year’s final. Switzerland topped the table with an 11-1 record and defeated China 4-2 in the semifinals.
Tirinzoni led 3-2 after six ends, but Homan rolled away scoring a deuce in the seventh, stealing two in the eighth and another point in the ninth.
It’s the third gold medal at the world championship for Homan and Miskew, who also captured the title in 2017 in Beijing.
China defeated South Korea 9-4 to earn bronze.