TEAM USA QUALIFIES FOR 2022 OLYMPIC GAMES IN MIXED DOUBLES
© WCF / Steve Seixeiro
Chris Plys and Vicky Persinger earned their berth to the Olympic Qualifying Event after winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Mixed Doubles Curling in Eveleth, Minn. at the end of October.
Following their Trials victory, the duo of Persinger/Plys advanced to the Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualifying event in Leeuwarden, Netherlands on Dec. 5-9, where 14 countries would compete for the final two mixed doubles berths to the 2022 Olympic Games.
The format of the Olympic Qualification Event divided teams into two pools of seven and required each pool to complete a round robin before the top three teams from each pool would enter the playoff stage of the competition.
Team USA completed the round robin with a perfect 6-0 record and secured the top ranking of Pool B in their final round robin game against Korea, who was tied with the United States at 5-0 before the two teams met.
With the 6-0 record and one-seed secured, Persinger/Plys earned a bye directly into the finals where the winner would advance to the 2022 Games.
The United States faced Russia in the Qualification Final.
After taking an early lead and remaining in control for most of the game, Russia found an opportunity to tighten the score after the United States crashed on a guard in an attempt to remove Russia’s stones from the house. Russia’s draw with hammer to tie the game came up short, giving Team USA a one-point advantage with hammer in the final end.
“That seventh end was not a good one for me,” said Vicky Persinger. “So, we just tried to put it aside and play the best eighth that we could. We made some shots, and now it feels great.”
Russia was unable to position their stones in a scoring position, resulting in the U.S. not needing to deliver their final stone of the game, punching their ticket to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games for Mixed Doubles Curling with a 6-4 victory.
Despite having already qualified for Beijing with Team Shuster in November, the determination and success with mixed doubles teammate Vicky Persinger was just as special for Chris Plys.
“I’m fortunate enough to have an Olympic slot already with my men’s team, so it would mean a lot to punch Vicky’s ticket,” said Chris Plys before qualifying.
The 2022 Olympics will mark the first Games for Vicky Persinger and the second for Chris Plys as he returns to the Olympic stage after his debut in Vancouver in 2010.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People, and United Airlines.
