Sudbury's Olympic curler Tracy Fleury took time from her training to give a curling lesson to the local news editor Mark Gentili. The session, captured in a video, highlights Fleury's skills ahead of her debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gentili, despite his lack of experience, showed enthusiasm during the fun encounter at Curl Sudbury.
In a lighthearted video produced by Sudbury.com, veteran curler Tracy Fleury from Sudbury shared her expertise with editor Mark Gentili, who had no prior curling experience despite being the child of two curlers. The lesson occurred at the Curl Sudbury club, where Fleury, serving as vice-skip for Team Homan, demonstrated techniques amid her demanding schedule as both an elite athlete and a mother.
Gentili's attempts were marked by several falls on his slider, adding humor to the session. He excelled in one key area: the vocal calls essential to curling, such as shouting 'hurry hard!'—a trait attributed to his Italian heritage and naturally loud demeanor. Fleury appeared to enjoy the antics, including Gentili's quirky suggestion that luncheon meat be hung at the hog line as a snack.
This 'staff tries' series installment follows Gentili's previous adventures, like cross-country skiing mishaps and downhill skiing successes, but underscores Fleury's community engagement. As she prepares for her Olympic debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games in Italy, Team Homan's women's round-robin competition begins on February 12, culminating in the gold medal game on February 22.
The video captures Fleury's approachable personality and the sport's accessibility, inviting local interest in curling. Sudbury.com assistant editor Heidi Ulrichsen, who arranged the session after interviewing Fleury last month, emphasized the curler's willingness to participate despite her busy preparations.
