2014 gold medallist Jennifer Jones returns to a more competitive curling field at Olympics

Eight years after becoming the first and only women's curling team to win Olympic curling gold with an undefeated record, Jennifer Jones and her Manitoba foursome return to the Olympics looking to get Canada back on top of the podium. 

In 2014, Jones carried the team to a perfect 11-0 record, winning Canada's second gold medal in women's curling. Sandra Schmirler's rink from Saskatchewan captured Canada's first women's Olympic curling championship in 1998.

But a lot has changed in the women's game over the years, specifically in the last two quadrennials — the real shift was realized during the last Games in South Korea, when Canada's Team Homan failed to reach the playoffs. It marked the first time that's happened at the Olympics in Canadian curling history.

What was seemingly an inevitable medal for Canada in curling at the Games, is no longer a guarantee. 

But Jones, who at 47 is the oldest athlete on Team Canada, says she's feeling the best she has in her career, and is prepared to stare down the challenge in front of her. 

The lineup looks a little different from 2014. Jill Officer was the second for the team, but she has since retired and  replaced by Jocelyn Peterman. Lisa Weagle, who was part of Homan's team at the last Games, is on Jones' team as the alternate. Dawn McEwen was the lead for Jones at the Sochi Games and makes her return to the Olympics.

WATCH | Jones leads her team into Beijing:

Experience in these pressure-packed moments will be an added advantage for Jones and her team. They'll have to lean on it throughout the event.

Nine other countries from around the world are part of the women's event.

Joining Canada in the event are Great Britain, USA, South Korea, China, ROC, Denmark, Japan, Switzerland