Curling-How alternates support their teams from behind the scenes

Advertisement Sport Curling-How alternates support their teams from behind the scenes Feb 13, 2026; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy; Tyler Tardi, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert of Canada during a men's round robin game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images 16 Feb 2026 05:36PM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 11 : At the Winter Games, a group of curlers exist in a strange paradox: officially Olympians yet uncertain whether they will set foot on the ice.These are the alternates, the unsung fifths in a sport designed for four."My goal is to be always wanted or needed but unnoticed," said Tyler Tardi, the alternate of a Canadian team led by 2014 Olympic champion Brad Jacobs. "If I can be behind the scenes, but the guys know that I'm making their lives easier, that's all I can do and that's all I can want. It's one of my personal traits I think, selflessness. It is a big goal of mine to put others ahead of myself. That fits this role pretty well." Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day. This service is not intended for persons residing in the E.U. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp’s partners. Loading The 27-year-old is keen to learn as much as he can from his teammates, who have a wealth of Olympic experience."To finally be at the Olympics and to not be on the ice, I don't take that as a negative," he added."It's more so of a driving force for the future. We're only a few days in and I already want to be back. This is super cool. I can't wait to work hard and try to be on the main lineup in the future."THROWING ROCKSOne of the main responsibilities of an alternate is to throw rocks the day before a game and map out how each individual stone travels on the ice."The rocks run a little bit differently sometimes," said U.S. alternate Rich Ruohonen. "That's the main thing. Also, just doing anything I can to help the team. Carry the brooms, go make sure everybody's up in the morning, make sure people are where they need to be when they need to be there, change the broom heads before the game."I'll re-watch certain shots in the game, I also scout the next team. There's just so much strategy involved."Ruohonen, who last week became the United States' oldest Winter Olympian at 54, said he is also serving as a mentor to his teammates, who are all in their 20s."I'm trying to help these guys. We have the youngest team here. They still have a lot to learn," he added.RIGHT MINDSETWhile alternates rarely get on the ice, it is always a possibility, and it is vital to be ready."I fully appreciate that the chances are that I'm not going to play in a game," said Great Britain alternate Kyle Waddell."I have a different approach to it in that every morning or afternoon or night that we play, I make sure that I'm in the mindset that I can play. Because at the end of the day, if I do need to come on, then I'm not making Team GB any weaker."You just get used to playing the role that a fifth plays. Obviously I would love to be on the ice, but it's not necessarily about me. It's about the team." Source: Reuters Newsletter Recommended Read Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day. Sign up for our newsletters Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Subscribe here Get the CNA app Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Download here Get WhatsApp alerts Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app Join here Advertisement Also worth reading Content is loading... Advertisement Expand to read the full story Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST