Goodable

This is Junior. At three years old he contracted Polio and was never able to run as fast as the other kids. To compensate for his disability, he would dance along to music videos, mixing gymnastics and martial arts. Today, he's one of the best B-boy dancers in the world. "I have always tried to turn my disability into an advantage," he says. "The best example is dancing. When I was little, I would dance along to Michael Jackson videos. To compensate for moves I couldn't do, I came up with my own mix of gymnastics and martial arts."

<p>Junior Bosila Banya, aka B-Boy Junior, is one of the most iconic breakers in the history of the scene. He's famous for his handstand acrobatics and strength - both physically and mentally.</p><p>When he was three years old, Junior contracted polio. But he was determined not to let anything dictate his limitations."I have always tried to turn my disability into an advantage," he says. "The best example is dancing. When I was little, I would dance along to Michael Jackson videos. To compensate for moves I couldn't do, I came up with my own mix of gymnastics and martial arts – moves I could do on my hands."</p>

World-Class BBoy Breakdances Despite Leg Disability

Science Daily

A single injectable protein could one day offer relief for people struggling with both depression and gut issues like “leaky gut,” according to new research from the University of Victoria.
The study, published in Chronic Stress, focused on a glycoprotein called Reelin, already known to play a role in brain development. Researchers say it could also help restore the gut lining and ease symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).
“Increasingly, the gut-brain axis is becoming essential to understanding many psychiatric disorders, including depression,” said Hector Caruncho, a professor of medical sciences at UVic and the study’s senior author.
Reelin is found in the brain, blood, liver, and intestines. When mice were exposed to chronic stress, their intestinal levels of Reelin dropped—alongside signs of increased gut permeability. But after a single injection of 3 micrograms of Reelin, those levels returned to normal.
That matters because chronic stress doesn’t just affect mental health—it also physically damages the gut. Over time, stress can weaken the intestinal barrier, allowing bacteria and toxins to pass into the bloodstream. This so-called “leaky gut” can trigger inflammation, which may worsen or even cause depressive symptoms.
The new study suggests that Reelin helps repair that damage.
“Under normal conditions, the cells lining the gut are replaced every four to five days,” explained first author Ciara Halvorson, a neuroscience PhD student at UVic. “If Reelin supports the renewal of the gut lining, it may help protect against the worsening of depression symptoms triggered by inflammatory immune responses.”
Earlier studies had already linked low Reelin levels to depression in both humans and animals. The UVic team’s new work builds on that by connecting Reelin to gut health as well. In stressed rodents, a single injection not only restored Reelin levels in the intestine, it also produced antidepressant-like effects.
While clinical trials are still a long way off, the findings hint at a future where mental health treatments could also target the gut—and vice versa.
“Taken together, these results may have important implications for the management of major depressive disorder,” said Halvorson. “This is especially true for people who live with both depression and gastrointestinal conditions.”
The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Protein Injection Shows Promise for Treating Both Depression and Gut Disorders, Say Canadian Researchers

Talker News

Milli Abrams isn’t tall, but her achievement looms large.

The 50-year-old mother from Fife has just become the smallest person ever to complete the “World’s Toughest Row,” a grueling solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Over 46 days, 11 hours, and 44 minutes at sea, she rowed more than 4,800 kilometres from the Canary Islands to Antigua—finishing just after dark on January 30.

“I was the fastest boat in the fleet at one point,” she said in a video posted to her social media. “I felt like an athlete—I felt good.”

At just five feet tall, Milli has defied expectations in more ways than one. A former accountant who now runs her own small business, she took on the challenge not as a lifelong athlete, but as someone looking to prove something to herself—and inspire others.

She battled wind shifts, exhaustion, and mental strain, all while raising close to £16,000 for two charities: The 2 Minute Foundation, which fights plastic pollution, and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), which supports kids with terminal illnesses.

The toughest stretch came right at the end. Just 15 miles from shore, wind and currents pushed her off course.

“I was thinking it was my final test from the sea,” she said. “I screamed and cried and wailed… I wasn’t present in the moment—I was focused on the finish line, which was torturous.”

After fighting through seven or eight more hours in worsening conditions, Milli finally arrived in Antigua, where friends and family were waiting.

“It was so nice to see the safety boat and humans,” she said. “They tell you it’ll be overwhelming—but I loved it. I was just very happy.”

Her brother kept her company by phone during the final stretch, helping her stay calm as she powered through the last hour and a half in darkness.

Before the row, Milli admitted she wasn’t “particularly sporty.” She’d also experienced long COVID. But after a friend completed the same crossing in 2023, something clicked. She started training and committed to the idea that someone like her—small, busy, and not a pro athlete—could do something extraordinary.

“I hope I feel happy and ready to jump back into normal life,” she said before setting off. “I’m hoping to get a bit more of an understanding of who I am, and how I cope by myself in tough situations.”

She also wanted to prove the experience could feel attainable for people who might not see themselves as capable of taking on extreme physical feats.

“Because it didn’t feel attainable to me,” she said, “until I met someone who’d done it.”

Now, she’s the one others will be looking to.

This 5-Foot Mom is Set to Become the Smallest Person Ever to Row Solo Across the Atlantic

A quick nap might be the smartest move you make all day.

Researchers from the University of Freiburg and the University of Geneva say that even a short afternoon nap—up to 45 minutes—can help the brain recover and prepare to learn again. Their findings, published in the journal NeuroImage, show that a brief siesta helps reorganize connections between nerve cells, making it easier to absorb new information.

“Even short periods of sleep enhance the brain’s capacity to encode new information,” said Professor Christoph Nissen, who led the study. During the day, our brains are bombarded with information and constantly process new thoughts and experiences. This strengthens the connections between nerve cells—called synapses—but that also leads to saturation. Eventually, the brain can’t take in much more.

That’s where sleep comes in. It resets things.

Nissen explains that the brain doesn’t need a full night’s rest to do this kind of cleanup. A midday nap can reduce synaptic overload while still preserving important memories, essentially freeing up brainpower for whatever comes next. “This ‘synaptic reset’ can happen with just an afternoon nap, clearing space for new memories to form,” he said.

To test the idea, the researchers recruited 20 healthy young adults and had them either nap or stay awake for two afternoons. The naps lasted about 45 minutes on average. Since it’s not possible to directly measure synaptic activity in humans, the team used non-invasive tools like EEGs and transcranial magnetic stimulation to monitor what was going on in the brain.

They found that after a nap, the overall strength of synaptic connections dropped—an indicator that the brain had restored itself. More importantly, the brain’s ability to form new connections improved “significantly,” suggesting it was ready to take in new information.

“The study helps us understand how important even short periods of sleep are for mental recovery,” said Dr. Kai Spiegelhalder of the University Medical Center Freiburg. “A short nap can help you think more clearly and continue working with concentration.”

The research suggests that naps could be especially helpful in high-pressure fields like sports, music, or safety-critical jobs. “An afternoon nap can sustain performance under high demand,” Nissen said.

That doesn’t mean occasional sleeplessness is a disaster. The team pointed out that short-term sleep problems don’t necessarily harm performance. And for those dealing with chronic insomnia, they recommend cognitive behavioural therapy over sleeping pills, which can interfere with natural brain recovery and lead to dependency.

Bottom line: A nap isn’t lazy—it’s neuroscience.

Need a Mental Reset? Science Says Take a Nap

ESPN

Abbey Murphy isn’t just scoring goals—she’s making statements.

In a January face-off between No. 3 ranked Minnesota and No. 12 Minnesota State, the senior captain pulled off a moment that felt straight out of a video game. With the puck in open ice, Murphy flipped it into the air, knocked it between a defender’s legs, and dished off a no-look pass to freshman Bella Fanale for an easy goal. The assist went viral. ESPN’s John Buccigross called it “the greatest assist of all time.”

“Most people would never even think about doing that,” said Minnesota head coach Brad Frost. “Or have the courage to try.”

Murphy did, and she nailed it. The trick wasn’t random either—it was inspired by a move from her summer training buddy Ryker Lee, a Nashville Predators prospect.

But Murphy, now 23, isn’t new to the spotlight. She led the NCAA in goals (36 in 26 games) and also led in penalties (23) heading into the Olympics. Her game is a unique mix of elite skill, raw aggression, and unapologetic showmanship. She’s fast, physical, and unafraid to chirp. And she knows exactly what she’s doing.

“To see women’s hockey get that recognition it deserves, obviously is a main reason why I try to do that kind of stuff,” Murphy said. “Just to be different and shine on a different stage.”

A two-time Olympian already, Murphy skipped the 2025 PWHL draft to return to Minnesota for a final shot at a national title. She’s now among Team USA’s most dangerous forwards heading into Milan, and her teammates and coaches can’t stop talking about her.

“Me being a coach here for 26 years, I don’t know of any other player like Murph,” said Frost. “I’ve kind of used the [Matthew] Tkachuk or [Brad] Marchand comparison, but I think that’s doing a disservice to Murph. She has the skill of a Connor McDavid and a chip similar to Marchand.”

Murphy herself leans into the Marchand comparison. Taylor Heise, her Team USA linemate and 2024 PWHL Playoff MVP, agrees—sort of.

“She calls herself the Brad Marchand of women’s hockey, but I think she’s more than that,” Heise said. “She’s a dynamic forward who can go scrummy into corners but also can toe drag you and make you look like a fool.”

Murphy’s combination of grit and flair makes her tough to contain—and sometimes tough to officiate. Bodychecking is illegal in women’s hockey, but Murphy doesn’t shy away from contact. She’s built her game on toeing that line. Not everyone appreciates it.

“Other teams have at least one or two people on their team that are told that you have to rattle Abbey,” Heise said. “But if you go at her, it’s all hands on deck. You better hope that your mom, your sister, whoever she knows about you, you’re done.”

USA head coach John Wroblewski remembers his early skepticism. At a 2022 tryout camp, Murphy’s intensity was off the charts.

“She was so far over the line that I was like we can’t bring this,” Wroblewski said. “Her intensity was so heavy. I didn’t know if she was going to hurt one of yours or the opponent.”

She didn’t make the cut that year. But when she returned for the Rivalry Series, everything clicked.

“Slowly and surely you get to understand the person behind all of this,” Wroblewski said. “She is fun to be around. She’s cool yet she’s got a degree of intensity, but honestly much more, laid back and chill. So considerate. It’s unbelievable that when she puts those skates and helmet on, she’s a different person.”

Off the ice, Murphy is all respect and gratitude. Her linemates describe her as kind and loyal, the first to thank a teammate, the last to brag about herself.

“She will do anything for you,” Heise said. “She is from a family where family is everything.”

Murphy’s edge came early. She grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, the daughter of a Marine and a trauma nurse. Her brothers played football and wrestled; no one in the house played hockey until Murphy saw a neighbor skating in their backyard. That was it. She was hooked.

At 15, her dad gave her coach permission to call her out when she racked up bad penalties. “Sometimes I took it too far, absolutely,” Murphy said. “But I’d have Frosty there to yell at me or sit me if he had to.”

That fire hasn’t gone away—it’s just matured. She scored five goals in Team USA’s sweep over Canada in the recent Rivalry Series, including the first American hat trick against Canada since Hilary Knight in 2023. And with the launch of the PWHL, players like Murphy are entering the Olympics sharper than ever.

“The game has been elevated since four years ago,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations. “And it’s going to be noticeable.”

Murphy is in the mix to go first overall in the 2026 PWHL draft, but she’s not thinking about that now. She’s focused on winning. Her style? Fast, fierce, flashy—and fueled by a desire to make women’s hockey impossible to ignore.

“I’m someone who likes to play with speed and a lot of tenacity and love to make plays and obviously score goals and stuff like that,” Murphy said. “But obviously you hear the other side, kind of that annoying agitator on the ice who honestly just does whatever it takes to win. That’s my game.”

Abbey Murphy Is Hockey’s Viral Star and Could Be Hockey's Next Big Thing

Sunny Skyz

As freezing rain and sleet battered Fort Worth, Texas during a recent winter storm, a homeless woman named Bobbi found herself in a life-threatening situation — cold, alone, and unable to move. But thanks to the quick thinking of a local store manager, she lived to tell the story.

Faris Hussain, manager at Evans Food Mart, didn’t hesitate when a customer burst into the store and said a woman was lying outside, frozen. He rushed out to find Bobbi stiff from the cold, her body nearly frozen solid after spending the entire night outside.

“She felt like a rock, as stiff as a rock,” Hussain said. “No matter which way you picked her up, her body was going to stay the same form.”

Despite the difficulty, he managed to carry her inside, where she slowly began to warm up. Bobbi, barely able to speak, thanked him and the others who gathered to help. She explained she had spent the night trying to reach a warming shelter — only to find it had closed. It had also been her 50th birthday.

“She tried crawling through the ice,” Hussain said, noting she had left her shoes behind because she couldn’t get them on. “It’s kind of like, ‘God was watching over you.’”

Emergency crews arrived shortly after and took Bobbi to the hospital. She later reunited with Hussain, who had been captured on surveillance footage running to her aid.

Bobbi expressed deep gratitude to everyone who helped her that day and hopes her story encourages others to act when someone is in need.

As for Hussain, he’s not looking for praise.

Helping people, he said, is just part of what he and his team try to do every day for their community.

Texas Store Manager Saves Homeless Woman from Freezing on Her Birthday

BBC News

A part-time engineer from Rugby has smashed the world speed record for remote control cars, hitting an astonishing 234.71 mph (377.7 km/h) with a custom-built machine he calls The Beast.

Stephen Wallis, who works for Royal Enfield Motorcycles in Leicestershire, spent over a year designing the 1-meter-long car, built from 3D-printed parts and powered by four high-performance drone motors.

"It goes back to when I was eight years old and got my first radio-controlled car," Wallis said, crediting a childhood obsession for the project’s origin.

While he had publicly aimed for 200 mph (321.8 km/h), Wallis privately hoped to break 240 mph. He didn’t quite reach that mark, but his record-breaking run still eclipsed the previous top speed by over 16 mph.

To put the feat in perspective, The Beast is faster than a McLaren F1 supercar.

“The motors are bolted directly to the wheels, which are in turn bolted directly to the chassis,” Wallis explained. “That kept things simple mechanically, but the electronics were a real challenge.”

He initially struggled to push the vehicle’s performance, so he went back to the drawing board to study brushless motor systems and unlock more speed. The breakthrough came just in time for a September meeting of the Radio Operated Scale Speed Association (ROSSA) at Llanbedr Airfield in North Wales, where the record was officially set.

Along with a Guinness World Record certificate, Wallis earned another prize: a custom cap from ROSSA. As the new record holder, he got to pick the color scheme — neon green with black writing — inspired by his son's suggestion.

“The car’s white, neon green, and pink so it’s visible at a distance,” Wallis said. “My son suggested neon green with neon pink writing, but that was a bit too garish.”

With The Beast now in the record books, Wallis hasn’t said whether he’ll take another shot at 240. But he’s already proven one thing: childhood dreams, plus a bit of engineering know-how, can move at over 230 miles per hour.

This UK Engineer Just Broke a World Record with His 234 mph Remote Control Car

Kristina Ulmer never expected a stack of waitress tips to change her life — or the lives of hundreds of her students.

In 2014, Ulmer lost her sister in a tragic car accident. When her family visited the crash site, they gathered her belongings. Among them: a wallet full of small bills, tips from a side job at a local diner. Ulmer didn’t know what to do with the cash at the time, so she tucked it away in a drawer. It sat there for four years.

Then, in 2018, something clicked.

Ulmer, an English teacher at Hatboro-Horsham High School near Philadelphia, was teaching Fahrenheit 451, the classic dystopian novel. She wanted her ninth-grade students to think more deeply about its themes — especially how to build a better society. That’s when she remembered the money.

“My sister was always, always concerned with other people,” Ulmer said. “I wanted to do something with the money, and I realized I could use it to help students understand the power of kindness.”

And so the $20 Kindness Challenge was born.

Every semester since, Ulmer has given each student in her class $20 and asked them to use it to make the world better in whatever way they choose. Some students add their own money or pool it with classmates. Afterwards, they create a video explaining their project and what they learned.

The results have been moving, creative, and deeply personal.

Ninth-grader Ellie Goldsman used her share to make handmade bracelets for every student at a local elementary school, organizing them by grade. Victoria Kanoff donated to the nonprofit Glad Dogs Nation. Charlie Boyd, a tenth-grader, gave to Parkinson’s research in honor of his dad, who’s been battling the disease for over a decade.

“It made us feel like we had a bigger impact than just our budget,” said sophomore Peter Linn.

The project has had ripple effects far beyond Ulmer’s classroom. As word spread, donations began pouring in to keep the challenge going. Hundreds of students have now taken part, spreading small acts of kindness across their communities. Other teachers — like Amy Smith in Delaware — have reached out to learn how to start similar programs in their own schools.

“One of the best takeaways for me was the way that the students described how they felt,” Smith said. “It made them light up.”

For Ulmer’s students, the experience is more than just a school project. It’s a source of connection and meaning.

“Being part of this community and this class that performed such a good thing for the world made her class a really welcoming space for me,” said tenth-grader Myah Morales Jones.

As for Ulmer, the challenge has helped transform her grief into something hopeful.

“Every time the kids are doing something, I see her being like, ‘yeah, that’s awesome,’” she said of her sister. “For the first time, I felt better. And every time the kids would share what they did, I felt a little better.”

She still keeps a photo of her sister nearby. But now, she also has a growing collection of student videos, notes, and memories — proof that kindness can come from even the deepest heartbreak.

“This next generation,” Ulmer said, “I don’t know, to me they’re gonna save the world.”

This Pennsylvania Teacher Just Turned Grief Into a Classroom Movement for Kindness

When Edward Clermont set out to become an underground miner at age 54, he didn’t just apply for jobs — he advertised himself on a billboard along Highway 17 in Sudbury, Ontario.

That bold move paid off.

Clermont, who lives in Kingston and has worked on oil rigs and in construction, recently landed a job at the Musselwhite gold mine in northwestern Ontario. He calls it his “dream job,” and it didn’t come through connections or a recruiter — it came from sheer determination and a little creativity.

“I’ve always kind of challenged myself with different things in life,” Clermont said. “Just keep moving forward, keep learning, and keep doing things that I’m told I’m too old to do. Prove them wrong.”

The billboard, which featured Clermont’s face and message to potential employers, quickly attracted attention — including from Cementation Canada, a major mining contractor. Clermont’s sincerity and persistence stood out in an industry where getting hired often depends on who you know.

“I receive over 50 resumes a day,” said Joe Bell, Cementation’s training and recruitment manager. “But Ed seemed determined, sincere, and safety-conscious — so I passed his resume along.”

It worked. Clermont is now starting a nine-month contract as a construction miner, doing demanding underground work like drilling, bolting, and blasting rock.

He didn’t arrive at this moment by chance. Clermont first enrolled in the Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core program at NORCAT in Sudbury, where trainees work in a functioning mine environment. There, he discovered just how much he enjoyed it.

“It was quite the experience, and it really changed me,” Clermont said, recalling the rush of operating a jackleg drill for the first time.

Still, he knew training was only half the battle. Mining is notoriously word-of-mouth, and several instructors at NORCAT encouraged him to get creative with his job search. Director Greg Major called the billboard “pretty amazing,” and said Clermont was the first student to try anything like it.

Clermont says the idea came out of necessity. He knew his age might be seen as a disadvantage in such a physical job. But with mining companies across Canada facing worker shortages — and a growing number of employees aging out — Clermont saw an opportunity.

In 2023, nearly one in five Canadian mining workers were 55 or older, according to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. Meanwhile, the share of young workers under 25 has been steadily shrinking.

“Simply put, we are not training enough students in the programs we need,” the council noted in a recent report.

That makes skilled and motivated workers like Clermont increasingly valuable. And despite the physical demands, age isn’t a disqualifier.

“We hire people in their 50s and 60s, and sometimes even in their 70s on a regular basis,” Bell said. “If they’ve got the skills and can do the work, we have plenty of opportunities.”

Before his Musselwhite offer, Clermont took a job hauling rock at an open-pit mine near Cochrane. But he kept pushing for an underground role — what he calls “the ultimate challenge.”

Now, as he gets ready to head deep underground, Clermont hopes to keep working in mining for at least another 15 years.

“I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing that I can, at this age, do something most people even half my age could never do,” he said.

For others thinking of a midlife pivot, Clermont has some advice: take the leap — and don’t be afraid to make a little noise doing it.

Ontario Man Lands Mining Job at 54 After Putting His Resume on a Billboard

ABC News

When a winter storm swept through Tulsa last weekend, Ryan Duval didn't wait for someone else to step up. He grabbed the keys to a vintage fire truck he once bought just for fun — and started picking people up off the freezing streets.

“I’m just doing what I was raised to do,” Duval said. “It’s good to give back, and now that I have the ability to do it, it’s nice.”

Duval, a small business owner, spent hours driving around Tulsa offering warmth, rides, and supplies to people experiencing homelessness. By the end of the weekend, he estimates he helped nearly 70 people — transporting them to shelters, helping them get unstuck from snow and ice, or handing out basic necessities.

The idea started when Duval delivered an electric heater to a mother and child living in a garage. As he left the neighborhood near 46th Street North, he noticed a man sitting alone in a park — wearing only a T-shirt and wrapped in a thin blanket.

“I pulled over and said, ‘Hey man, do you want a ride to the shelter?’” Duval recalled.

He told the man he’d be back after taking his own kids home. But when he returned with the fire truck, the man was gone. Duval searched the area and spoke to nearby police officers but never found him.

“It just inspired me to keep going that night,” he said. “I went until about 3 or 4 in the morning.”

That night turned into a weekend-long mission. Duval used his fire truck to shuttle people to warming centers across the city, including John 3:16 Mission, the Tulsa Day Center, and the Salvation Army. He said the response from shelters was immediate and welcoming.

“It was nice to see the support from them,” Duval said. “Just people helping people.”

The truck itself wasn’t meant for this. Duval had originally picked it up at an auction years ago and used it for birthday parties and local parades. “I never did, honestly,” he said, when asked if he imagined it would someday save lives. “Then it just kind of snowballed into this. I’m still in shock from it all, but it’s fun.”

As word of his efforts spread, the community stepped in to help. Brandon Cox, owner of Only Okie Graffiti and Vintage Shop, quickly turned his storefront into a donation drop-off site for blankets and supplies.

“He started going out and saving lives [of the] homeless people out in the freezing cold,” Cox said. “He started needing blankets, so we started accepting them up here at Only Okie.”

What started as a simple act of kindness is now something more. For Duval, it’s no longer just a cool old truck — it’s a way to serve his neighbors when it matters most.

Tulsa Man Uses Vintage Fire Truck to Rescue Dozens in Winter Storm

When the tension is sky-high and a curling stone doesn’t curl the way it’s supposed to, Ina Forrest doesn’t flinch. She falls back on something she learned growing up in the tiny township of Spallumcheen, British Columbia: “Buck up. Be tough.”

That grit has carried Forrest to the edge of history. When she takes the ice in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy this March, she’ll become the first person to compete in wheelchair curling at five Paralympic Games. And she’s not just showing up — she’s gunning for another medal.

Now 63, Forrest has already won four Paralympic medals, including two golds (2010, 2014) and two bronzes (2018, 2022), plus three world championships. She was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2016 and, just last year, the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. But according to her coach, she’s never been better.

“I think she’s the best version of herself that she’s ever been,” said Mick Lizmore, Canada’s head coach. “She’s more equipped to handle the pressure than she ever has been.”

That’s not just talk. Lizmore, who has a background in sport psychology, sees it in how Forrest moves and plays — calmer, more focused, still just as competitive. She’s worked on her mental game as much as her shot-making, fine-tuning her ability to block out noise and lock in when it counts.

“I've spent a lot of time practicing focus technique, so that once it's my turn for my shot, that's all I see,” Forrest said.

She first learned the value of mental resilience not on the ice, but on her family’s homestead in rural B.C., where hauling water and building log houses were part of life.

“You didn't fall apart and your emotions didn’t move,” she said. “That came through in sport. Being able to focus gets you through some of those times where maybe you would feel like you weren’t able to play.”

In a sport where games can flip in a single end, that steadiness is a weapon. Forrest’s even-keeled presence has become a pillar for Team Canada, especially as the team heads into the Games with a mix of experience and new energy.

The Canadian lineup includes skip Mark Ideson, third Jon Thurston, lead Collinda Joseph, and alternate Gilbert Dash. While Ideson returns for his third Paralympics, Dash will be making his debut, and this will be the first Games with spectators for Joseph and Thurston.

“In crunch-time moments... you look to those athletes who’ve been there to provide a steadying, calming influence,” said Lizmore.

Forrest embraces the pressure. “Just getting to Paralympics is an achievement every time,” she said. “The best version of yourself has to show up every game just to even have the opportunity.”

Canada enters the tournament ranked second in the world, behind two-time defending champions China. Their opening game is set for March 7 against host nation Italy. They’ll also face the U.S., Great Britain, Sweden, Latvia, Slovakia, Korea, and China in the round robin. Canada is the only country to have medaled at every Paralympic wheelchair curling tournament.

Forrest will throw second stones, but her leadership and voice carry the weight of experience. Even with all she’s achieved, the love for the game still burns.

“I love competition. I love playing the sport. I love being around people that are also that interested in sport,” she said. “It’s always changing... an ever-changing chasing of something that you can always get better at.”

And despite the years, Forrest keeps improving. “Watching old game tape, she seems a little more at ease out there than before,” Lizmore said. “Not any less caring — just a little more at ease.”

She still feels the sting of missed shots or tough losses. But she’s trained herself to move on fast. That’s what makes her so good. And that’s why she’s still here, chasing greatness, one stone at a time.

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