Brad Jacobs, the Sault Ste. Marie curler who won gold in 2014, is set to compete in his second Olympics at Milano-Cortina next week. At 40, he leads a new Alberta team after overcoming family rivals in trials. With family cheering him on for the first time, Jacobs aims to inspire his hometown amid economic challenges.
Brad Jacobs was just 28 and newly married when he claimed Olympic gold in curling at the 2014 Sochi Games alongside his cousins, E.J. and Ryan Harnden. Now, at age 40, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native is gearing up for another shot at glory at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, starting next week.
The mission remains unchanged—to win gold for Canada—but the circumstances have evolved. Jacobs will have a larger support network this time, including his wife, mother, in-laws, and for the first time, his children, Cale and Camille. “It’s special to share this moment with my kids and with more people,” Jacobs said. “I’ve got two kids, it’d be nice to have two Olympic gold medals to pass down.”
His team has also transformed. Jacobs now skips a newly formed Alberta rink featuring Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, which clinched the Brier title last year after rising through national ranks. The path to Italy included a poignant victory over his Harnden cousins in last month's curling trials final. “It’s not easy for any of us to play against one another, it’s quite difficult,” he reflected. “But it goes to show how great we all are still and are at the top of the game and on great teams.”
Back home, Sault Ste. Marie faces hardships with over 1,000 layoffs looming at Algoma Steel, the city's biggest employer, in March. Jacobs hopes his Olympic run can provide a morale boost. “Times in the Sault haven’t been great,” he noted. “Having some skin in the game, someone from the Sault, is pretty nice for people. They’ll be able to tune in and cheer and get through a two or three-week period where it’s a nice distraction to have.” He added, “We’re going to try to entertain everyone from Sault Ste. Marie with some great curling and hopefully give them something to be really proud of.”
With greater maturity, Jacobs views this Olympics differently. “We’ve matured a lot in the sport,” he said. “I’m going to appreciate this Olympics a lot more than the last one. It’s perspective and knowing how hard it is to make it to the Olympics and represent Canada.” His first round-robin match is against Germany on February 11, and he warns of stiff competition. “The entire field is tough,” Jacobs said. “The rest of the world has caught up to Canada, and in some cases, surpassed Canada with teams on the men’s and women’s sides. We know it’s going to be difficult, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
