Kevin Martin | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin, curler (born at Killam, Alta, 31 Jul 1966). Kevin Martin took up curling early in life, playing in Edmonton, Alta, and won the Canadian Junior Championship in 1985 at the age of 19.

Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin, curler (born at Killam, Alta, 31 Jul 1966). Kevin Martin took up curling early in life, playing in Edmonton, Alta, and won the Canadian Junior Championship in 1985 at the age of 19. That success qualified Martin to enter international competitions and he won the silver medal in 1986 at the World Junior Championship.

Martin made his first of 10 appearances at the BRIER in 1991, at the age of 25. He won the event and then went on that year to take the silver medal at the World Curling Championships held in Winnipeg. Curling was a demonstration sport at the 1992 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES in Albertville, and Martin displayed his skill and resolve by placing fourth at these prestigious international competitions. Martin appeared again at the Brier in 1992, 1995 and 1996 but did not win the event. After a six-year break Kevin Martin again won the Brier in 1997, qualifying him to enter the World Championships. To his disappointment he did not achieve the same success he had in 1991, placing fourth in the competition. Martin did not play at the Brier again until 2000, and did not win again until 2008. Martin's first World Championship win also occurred in 2008 when he won the gold. He captured his fourth Brier in 2009, and took the silver medal at the World Championships that year.

Curling became an official Olympic sport in 2002 at Salt Lake City. Martin was one of the curlers representing Canada at these Games, where he played superbly but narrowly lost to the Norwegians in the final, taking the silver medal home. Martin is now poised to continue his success at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Martin is renowned for his ability to make nearly impossible shots in difficult situations. Curlers now call pulling such a move "doing a Martin."