Wheelchair curling legend Ina Forrest chasing more history at unprecedented 5th Paralympics

In the high-pressure silence of the final end, when a rock doesn't curl the way it should, Ina Forrest doesn't panic. She leans on a lesson from her childhood — a simple command to stay tough.

For Forrest, mental strength isn't just a personality trait — it's a competitive weapon. As she prepares for a historic fifth Paralympics in wheelchair curling, Forrest reveals that the key to a successful two-decade career isn't just perfecting the shot; it's mastering the art of focus and blocking out the noise.

In a sport where fortunes can flip on a dime, Forrest’s seasoned ability to manage the highs and lows is one of her greatest attributes.

"You dig deep and just let all your training take over and stop thinking. Sometimes that thinking in your head just gets in the way,” Forrest told CBC Sports.

“I've always felt like I've been strong at that. The focus part just takes over. It's a very important part of curling, not overthinking.”

It’s a mentality that was first shaped by her rural B.C. upbringing in the small township of Spallumcheen — population of just over 5,000 — where she was raised by pioneer parents who moved there during a time when “you were still building your log house and hauling water.”

“When I was growing up, it was ‘buck up,’ right, ‘be tough.’ You could handle things,” Forrest said. “It was just kind of a family thing as well, that you didn't fall apart and your emotions didn't move. So I think that came through in my life in sport.

“I think being able to focus gets you through some of those times where maybe you would feel like you weren't able to play, or the emotions of the event were taking over.”

The 63-year-old Forrest is set to become the first person in the sport’s history to compete at five