Thunder Bay's Rick Lang heading to Pyeongchang as part of national coaching team
It's 'gold or nothing,' for Canada's curlers, says coaching team member Rick Lang
Curling great Rick Lang is looking forward to another Olympic games, both as a coach and as a sports fan.
"You know, I played the game all my life, but ... also, I'm just a sports fanatic," he said, and the Olympics "is the epitome of all sport in my mind."
"It's just such an exciting event to be at."
In just a few weeks, Lang will leave his home in Thunder Bay, Ont., to head to Pyeongchang as part of Curling Canada's national coaching team.
- Preparing Homan, Koe is Curling Canada's No. 1 Olympic priority
- Olympic curlers warm up at Continental Cup
It's a role for which he's well prepared.
Lang, who's won two world championships and three Briers, is also a seasoned coach who helped lead Canada's men's team to gold in Sochi in 2014.
His job now is to help make sure Canada's curling teams are rested, relaxed and ready as both the men and women prepare to defend Canada's gold medal titles.
It's a job that involves a lot of management, and touches on everything from nutrition, to scheduling, to smoothing out travel plans for the friends and families of the Olympic athletes, said Lang.
Last few weeks spent recharging batteries
As for the athletes themselves, Lang said the most strenuous preparation is already done. The last few weeks before the games, which kick off on Feb. 9, will be spent recharging.
In fact, in the final days before the competition, the teams will head to a training camp in Japan, where they can disconnect from work and life in Canada, and "just get some really quiet time to make sure the battery's recharged."
- Rachel Homan wins Roar of the Rings to punch her Olympic ticket
- Kevin Koe defeats Mike McEwen to book spot in Pyeongchang
- Lawes, Morris win Olympic mixed doubles curling berth
The athletes will need that energy, considering the high Olympic expectations Canadians have for their curlers.
"It's a lot like hockey," said Lang. "It's gold or nothing."
"So ya, there's extremely high expectations ... and we don't downplay that, nor could we" he said. "We kind of relish that and take pride in that."