Canadian Curler Ina Forrest Captains Team at Age 51

Ina Forrest remembers the cascade of noise that hit her chest at the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremony, when her home province erupted in cheers for their own Paralympic athletes. Sixteen years later, she's still competing at the highest level.

The Canadian wheelchair curling legend has been named co-captain for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. With four Paralympic medals already to her name, including gold at Vancouver 2010 and bronze at Beijing 2022, Forrest continues to prove that elite athleticism has no age limit.

Wheelchair curling looks simple, but Forrest says most people don't understand its complexity. Players sit near the first line and use sticks to propel 44-pound granite stones down the ice. Once the rock leaves the stick, there's no sweeping to adjust its path.

"We cross our fingers and hope that we threw it perfectly," Forrest explains. Every shot requires absolute precision because there's no chance to correct mistakes once the stone is moving.

The sport demands constant collaboration. Three athletes huddle together, sharing observations about ice conditions, rock behavior, and shot trajectories. Meanwhile, the skip calls plays from the opposite end of the rink, and everyone must sync their understanding perfectly.

Training extends far beyond the ice. Forrest and her teammates study game strategy in dedicated sessions, lift weights to build power, monitor their nutrition for sustained energy, and focus on recovery techniques. Since most Canadian team members live in different communities, they travel to train together at least twice monthly.

Why This Inspires

Forrest's journey shows how sports evolve to become more inclusive over time. Since wheelchair curling debuted at Torino 2006, Canada has medaled at every Paralympic Winter Games. The addition of mixed doubles events has made it easier for more countries to field competitive teams with just two players instead of four.

More nations are entering the sport, creating opportunities for athletes worldwide to learn from each other at high-level competitions. What started as a niche Paralympic event has grown into a global community where precision, strategy, and teamwork matter more than physical ability.

At 51, Forrest continues pushing herself to stay competitive as the sport evolves. She studies what other teams are doing, adapts her training, and shares her decades of experience with newer players.

Canada heads to Italy this year with medal expectations and a captain who knows what it takes to stand on the podium, and Forrest is ready to lead her team through whatever challenges the ice brings.