Tahli Gill & Dean Hewitt Interview
It’s time to return to one of our favourite sports today and bring you an interview with Australian curlers Tahli Gill & Dean Hewitt, who are on track to make history as the first ever Australian curlers to compete at an Olympic Games. We learn from both Dean & Tahli just how they got into the sport and how it was growing up as a curler in Australia. We also learn about just how big of a deal it was to finish 4th at the 2019 World Championships and how that exposure helped the sport of curling in Australia, as well as just what it will take for them to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. It’s an interview you won’t want to miss!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note this is an automated transcript that may contain errors.
BEN WATERWORTH: It is Off The Podium, An Olympics Podcast coming to you once again for another interview episode, episode 130. Just seems like yesterday we did our 100th episode, but we've got a massive chat for you today with two people. We love these dual guests when we get them on the show. We've only done it once before, of course, just before Tokyo when we spoke with, of course, Jaden and Connor for about wrestling. This time around, we're speaking about curling, one of my favourite sports. And our first ever time, we've spoken to Australian curlers. That is right, we have Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt, two people who could create history in a matter of months as Australia's first ever Olympic curlers. They are on the cusp of qualification for Beijing. Should they do it, it will be the first time Australia has ever been represented in the sport of curling at a Winter Olympic Games. And this is a fascinating chap, because Tahli and Dean, not only are they there to make up the numbers should they qualify, they'll be there with a genuine medal shot. They finished fourth in the mixed doubles curling world championships back in 2019, finished in the semifinals, of course, and went on to lose the bronze medal game. But still, a top four for Australia in curling is absolutely incredible. So Tahli and Dean talk about that experience, how they got involved in the sport, what they actually have to do to qualify for Beijing, and just everything else in between. Some fun chats here in regards to just the parental connection for both of these people. And Dean also talks about the fact that although Australia has never of course competed in curling at the Olympics, we sort of have in a weird way. Sort of. We have, but yeah, you'll understand it during this interview. So stay tuned, get excited, and listen right now to our chat with Australian Curl of Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt.
BEN WATERWORTH: I'm very excited for our next guest here on Off The Podium today. I famously many times said that I want to be an Olympian, and I've always said that the one sport that I'm going to do it in is curling. And I've always said that I would be Australia's first ever representative in the sport of curling. I've been saying that now for about a decade, and I've made absolutely no progress, but our next guest today have made progress. They are on the cusp of becoming Australia's first ever representatives in curling at the Olympic Games. And they've done so well on the world stage. And I'm so excited to learn about their journey to where they are today, to how they are going in the lead up to a potential spot at Beijing. I have Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt on the line. Guys, it's a pleasure to welcome. Tahli, I'll say to you first of all, welcome to the show. It's a pleasure to have you on Off The Podium today.
TAHLI GILL: Thanks for having me.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dean, for yourself, I'll say it's a pleasure, even though I did read you're an Essendon supporter. So I'll let that slide first of all, as I do welcome you straight away to the show.
DEAN HEWITT: Thanks for having us. I appreciate it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Now, Tahli, do I check you're an Essendon supporter too? Do I need to tread lightly around the Essendon jokes on the show today or?
TAHLI GILL: Oh no, all good with me. I'm from Queensland, so don't follow the AFL as much as Dean, but yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: All right. Okay.
TAHLI GILL: Just whoever.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, just when Brisbane are winning, and when Gold Coast maybe win a game or something.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: So it kind of goes that way. But I mean, I feel I actually have to apologise to all Australian curlers out there for the fact that I have made this comment for years saying that, ah, curling is the easy sport. I'll make it into the Olympics in that because having seen it now live and had a few curlers on this show and gotten a bit more into the sport than I was maybe 10 years ago, I realised it's a stupid thing to say because curling is a lot more in depth and a lot more difficult than I think people like myself and many other people realise. But I guess we'll start off with the basics. How do you guys get into curling? I'm going to start with you, Dean, because you've got a bit of a history, I think, in this sport, which is quite interesting because even though I say Australia's never been at the Olympics in curling, they kind of have because your dad kind of did compete for Australia at the 92 Olympics, didn't he?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, so back in 92, curling was still a demonstration sport. So dad and mum actually taught me. So mum is originally from Canada and she met dad who's Australian and taught him. So they naturally brought me up with curling all around myself. And yeah, basically coaches for me all through my junior career, and then it kind of progressed from there.
BEN WATERWORTH: Tahli, for yourself, I saw that it was a similar story. Your mum was into curling, got into curling, and I believe she got into it after watching it on TV at the Olympics. Is that correct?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so that's kind of where it all started for me. She thought on the Olympics, wanted to give it a go, and she did, liked it ever since, and then sort of got me into it, and I was the same. It's easy to fall in love with curling, so yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's interesting, because I always find that the Winter Olympics are always so fascinating, because these are the sports, as Australians, we don't see, we don't know much about these sports. So I can imagine for your mum there, Tahli, again, to kind of see this sport and go, wow, what is this? I mean, was it a simple case in of falling in love with it, seeing it, and then making a phone call to the local rink and go, hey, do you guys do curling? And it was kind of, the rest is history.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so she was a ski instructor, and I at the time was a figure skater. So I guess in a way, we kind of always were around winter sports, which is a little bit bizarre, living in Queensland. But yeah, so she called the rink and was like, I really want to try curling. Do they have curling here? And there wasn't at the time. So they sort of directed her where they, I don't know how they got rocks at another rink in Queensland, Acacia Ridge. I think it was from, they were from Melbourne. So they had curling rocks in Queensland. And basically she got in touch with a few other really keen people who were Canadian and American who wanted to also start up curling as well. And they sort of started up together in Boondall.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dean, I'm intrigued. So given that your mum's from Canada, got your dad into it, I mean, was this just kind of one of those things that when a couple gets together, it's forcing your interest onto the other person? Or was your dad legitimately like, hey, this is interesting. I want to take this up.
DEAN HEWITT: It's an interesting question. I actually asked him that, but I think naturally mum wanted to have a little piece of Canada in her when she came over to Australia. So, her friend group was all around curling originally, and they kind of have a Canada club over here. So yeah, it was kind of a way for her to make some more friends. And dad, I think was roped along initially, but he seemed to like it. He was a natural athlete, and he was a really good cricketer at the time. And slowly evolved into a curler more than a cricketer in the end.
BEN WATERWORTH: I have to ask where in Canada is your mum originally from?
DEAN HEWITT: She's from Winnipeg, so the ideal place for curling because there's not much else to do.
BEN WATERWORTH: Well, I was gonna say, so our co-host on the show, Colin, is from Winnipeg. And I know through his curling interviews, he did with Jill Officer and Mike Harris, sort of talked that up, and has always talked about the esteemed history of curling in Winnipeg. I've been there a couple of times. I mean, it's a city. Let's just say that. It's not that bad. I don't want to bag out on Winnipeg today. Not being that cruel, essentially. But I mean, for both of you then to sort of have that stock coming from your parents and kind of go into that. I mean, Tahli, you said you were a figure skater. What kind of then led on the change from figure skating to curling? Because I mean, that's sort of two sports that I guess outside of the fact that they're both winter and they're both on ice aren't really that related. So how do you kind of take off the skates and pick up the rock?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so for a while, I was doing both because I started curling at about 12 and it was somewhat easy to continue on with both because when you're in junior, you sort of, especially in Australia, you sort of only have like one competition that you're sort of training for. But I guess for me, just stopping skating was a few factors just sort of fell out of love with it and sort of just grew more towards curling. And it's kind of reached the point where it's like, oh, just make the decision between two sports if you wanted to go a bit further in them. So yeah, I chose curling.
BEN WATERWORTH: And how many people were curling, as you kind of said about winter sports in Queensland, doesn't really fit that well. I can imagine that curling in Queensland fits even together less. I mean, that would have been, I can imagine a very small group of people at that stage.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, it's probably smaller now, but I'm not sure how many, I would say there's probably 50 members or so, maybe.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, that's amazing.
TAHLI GILL: Not all of them go curling every Wednesday night, but it's definitely a small community.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dean, was that a similar thing sort of in Melbourne? I mean, was there a little bit more, given a bigger city and maybe, I don't know, in terms of facilities at the time, obviously we've got the ice house now, so things are a little bit different, but back then when you were doing that, were similar numbers?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, until the ice house opened, it was definitely smaller. Since it opened, we're kind of going a little bit under and over probably about 50 to 100 people membership wise. And I think across Australia, we've got around about 200, 250 members. So you look at that compared to some clubs in Canada, and that doesn't even equate to a club. So we're a very small, close-knit group and spread across Australia. So we don't get a whole lot of ice time. And I think that's one of the main restrictions on the whole thing. Considering we only get really one night of curling in these cities per week during winter, it's pretty minimal.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of the same question I asked Tahli, sort of that exposure for you when you were young, was it just a case of the parents do it, I'm going to do it too, or is this just something your mum does versus your dad, you're doing curling. And now you as a kid, Dean, you're doing curling.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I think I just grew up around it, and I think I naturally just gravitated towards it. I was five months old, and I was going to World Championships to watch dad. So yeah, basically it was just surrounding me, and I really enjoyed it, and did all I could to get on ice. And I think the whole community that we had in Australia at the time, and we still do, was so great. And just the whole camaraderie you can have between the players, I think, is just so fascinating amongst the sport, and kind of a bit unique, going up to the bar after a game, and yeah, just enjoying each other's company.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which I think the fascinating thing through Colin's interviews with Gill, and particularly Mike Harris, of course, got a silver back in Narcono, was that kind of perception that curling is kind of the unfit sport. Like it's just bigger people can play it and drink beer and kind of all that sort of stuff. But learning through those interviews, it's clearly not the case anymore. You guys are some of the fittest athletes out there when it comes to some of these winter sports. Is that something that, I'll start with you, Dean, that kind of still in Australia, where again, this is a sport where we only ever see on our TV screens every four years during the Winter Olympics, that is that common misconception that when you're telling people, hey, I'm a curler, I'm a nationally, internationally ranked curling player, that you've kind of got to buck that trend that people think that.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, for sure. We're still kind of known by some from some people as janitors on ice. And yeah, it's hard to kind of get away from that stigma. For years, it was, you know, that drinking game and smoking on ice, and it's changed so much. And I think that's a natural evolution of sport. And being an Olympic event, you know, that just brings the whole physical side into it. And, you know, for how many kilometres we actually sweep on ice, it's no doubt we have to be fit to do so.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Tahli, for yourself, I mean, a similar conception there, and I guess with the smaller community there in Queensland, was that kind of something that people looked at? And particularly also, too, for yourself, switching from one winter sport to another, where people are like, what are you doing? You're going to curling from figure skating? I mean, gosh, all that training for what?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so I know at school, like, if people would say, oh, you know, you're a curler, that kind of went around really quick because it is bizarre and not a lot of people do it. So I was known as the curler in high school. But yeah, it is like Dean said, it's changing a lot, the sport, and it's definitely heading in the direction of very physical, very, you know, high intensity, especially because Dean does a lot of the sweeping. So he's very, very fit. But it's definitely changing in that sort of respect.
BEN WATERWORTH: How do you come up with that? Just on that topic of who's the sweeper and who's the skip? That's correct terminology, right? Or is that just in teams? Please correct me on all of my curling terminology today. I mean, do you two just flip a coin? Is it because Dean's been working out the gym harder? I mean, kind of how do you distinguish who's going to do each role?
TAHLI GILL: I guess the mixed doubles, it's different for each team. For us, well, Dean used to play with his mum, and that's kind of the way that you played. It was your mum was the skip, and then you would sweep all of the rocks. So that's when we became a partnership, that's kind of how it evolved as well.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, and I think it's so critical with mixed doubles to have someone watching line, and we felt that having someone in the house, especially for my shots, was really important. And so we just kind of gravitated towards that setup, you know, me doing the sweep, and Tahli calling line, and the strategy.
BEN WATERWORTH: I was actually intrigued how you brought that up. I was going to ask you, Dean, that I saw that you competed with your mum for quite some time. I mean, what then brings about the change to teaming up with Tahli? Is it a case of, mum, you're holding me back, come on, you're dissing me, like, this is not good for my game, like, come on. Or is it a case of, you know, maybe you just got too good, and you needed to find someone equal? You're not saying your mum's not good, but...
DEAN HEWITT: No, I think, you know, she was... I think she was almost 60 the last World Championships we played together. So we're getting to that stage where you kind of wanted to make a new change, and I thought having someone young would be key that we can go a bit further with for a longer period of time, because, you know, if we didn't make it to that upcoming Olympics, then at least we could make it to the following one too. So I think it's just looking towards the future a bit more and trying to have someone there who can do that with me.
BEN WATERWORTH: So how did you two then meet? Was it a case of just the circles? You were sort of on different teams and thought it would be a good fit? Had you known each other for some time? I mean, I want either of you to jump in here with the great story of when you two first met.
TAHLI GILL: We met, actually. We played juniors for a long time together. Obviously, Dean was in the men's team, and I was in the women's team. But we both actually played our first event at the same time, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, and in Korea, that was our first junior event. And so we just sort of knew each other from that sort of circle. And then obviously sort of met up again at one of the nationals, one of the mixed doubles nationals in, what year was it?
DEAN HEWITT: 2017.
TAHLI GILL: 2016, 2017, yeah. And after that, Dean sort of got in touch with me, and then, yeah, the rest is sort of history, I guess.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's like, my mum's not with me anymore, we can partner up now.
DEAN HEWITT: It was funny because we actually set this up before I was playing with mum at world championships. It's kind of a mutual agreement. We'd have one last Harada world championships, and then we'd switch over.
BEN WATERWORTH: I was going to say, there's a bit of a mutiny going on there, like a survivor blindside or something like that. Sorry, mum. You're on the wayside there. When it comes to pairing up though in the mixed doubles, is it a case of what you're keeping an eye on the men's or the women's team to see who could work? Is there a dynamic you two need to have for a successful mixed doubles pairing?
DEAN HEWITT: I think for sure. There's a huge dynamic aspect in doubles, especially because there's only two people, and it's a male and female. In a group of four, you can have a couple of guys which you don't like, but you just put up with it, because you can have two against two every so often. But when you're just two people out there on the ice together, you really don't have anyone else to work with, so you have to have a good relationship with each other and have a good dynamic on the ice.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Tahli, for yourself, when you then get that call, get that nod up there, was Dean someone that you had got to a point, like, okay, yep, I could have that, and then building up, I guess, that dynamic on the ice over the years?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, I actually always looked up to Dean because we're five years younger than him, and he was sort of, you know, like the up-and-coming curler when we were in junior's, and I always looked up to him, and he's always worked so hard, and I was quite surprised when he messaged me and was like, you know, do you want to sort of start a partnership, and this is my goal, this is where I want to go. And I'd always, you know, wanted to go as far as I can with any sport that I do. I'm quite competitive in that way. So it was really good just to have someone who was on the same page as me, and yeah, I guess playing with Dean, it was just sort of like, oh, yeah, I reckon this could work. And, you know, we've had to sort of work a lot on team dynamics, because as Dean said, mixed doubles is somewhat different, considering, you know, playing with men and women, and there is that natural difference anyway. But I think, you know, we sort of have a really good start, and definitely a lot to grow, but yeah, it's all sort of worked out really well so far, and good to see where it's going to go.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of the mixed doubles itself, obviously made its debut in Olympic competition in 2018. Was this something, though, outside of the Olympics that was, I guess, a lot more prominent on the world stage, and it was a bit of a surprise that it took so long to get at the Olympics? I mean, maybe, Dean, I'll direct this to you, was it kind of just something that it was surprising it took so long, and when it did, it was kind of this is a real opportunity now for Australia if we can't qualify sort of in the men's and the women's, that mixed is sort of where we can maybe look at getting into an Olympics.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, it was still kind of that new format at the time, and there was quite a few unknowns and a couple rule changes that were coming into force. But it did look like it looked like the event where you could kind of make that those inroads. A lot of teams hadn't really been playing for a whole lot of time together. I think especially, you know, as such a powerhouse that Canada is before it became an Olympic event, it was very unknown across Canada and it wasn't traditional. So a lot of curlers tended to steer clear of it. But I think, you know, with the success of Caitlin and John at those Olympics, it's really taken off and you watch all their national championships now and even just the tour events and they have some amazing curlers playing now and it's really becoming that exciting sport because it's, you know, short, sharp. It's always happening and there's not much waiting around and yeah, I think just the success that it had in Korea, I think it's really taking off now and it's becoming really competitive.
BEN WATERWORTH: The 2020 of curling, I guess you could call it.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, exactly. And that's what they're trying to almost make it, is that kind of 2020 style.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which it's fascinating. I mean, one thing that when I lived in Canada is you kind of hear these things about like, oh, curling such a big sport, it's on primetime TV. It is on primetime TV. Like, this is legitimately a thing. And sort of going back to your point about saying how there's what, 200, 250 people playing it in Australia and yet, you know, that doesn't even have that in clubs. I mean, I always like to sort of go over the facts that in Australia we have what about 20 rinks in the entire country and they've probably got 20 rinks in most suburbs in Canada. So it's kind of just that those mountains that you sort of overcome with that. When you guys obviously partner up and then go and end up going to the World Championships, where you guys do so well and finish fourth in that first one, Tahli, I'll start with you. I mean, was this obviously you want the goal is to go into these to win a medal, win them and do that sort of stuff. Was it a realistic chance going into those World Championships that you thought you could go as far as the semi-finals?
TAHLI GILL: Going into that event, our goal was to make the top 16 because that was the first year that they were going to cut that off and have the top 20 play at Worlds. But you did have to, sorry, the top 16 automatically qualified, but then you sort of had to fight your way back into that A pool. So going into that, our goal was just to make the top 16, keep a spot for Australia at the next World Championships. And after we sort of went to the next round and played against Switzerland, we, yeah, we just sort of like, all right, let's just keep going. And it was definitely a little bit unexpected, but we sort of came away from that going, all right, like anything's possible. And really excited for the next event and see what we could do and how far we could sort of push ourselves and know that we can aim just that little bit higher at the next event.
BEN WATERWORTH: And I was gonna say just before I get Dean to sort of comment on that too, I mean, was that your first taste of a world championship just for yourself?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so the only other championship that I'd played at was the World Junior B, which is definitely not the same level. So that was pretty much the first major world championship that I'd played at.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dean, was that yours with, I mean, obviously with Tahli, but had you talked about the ones you go into with your mum before? Were they the B ones, or had you gone to the main ones as well?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, so the previous two years, mum and I were at the, I guess, A group, but at that stage, there weren't any A or B groups. It was just one all-in world championship. And both those events, we missed out on draw shot challenge, which was pretty rough. So it came down to a matter of centimetres, or in one game, it literally came down to an inch, and we would have made playoffs. So we were really close on that cusp. So we knew that we could get across the line, but with a new team, you just never know.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which then, for your experience, teaming up with Tahli to get that performance, I mean, again, as Tahli's name, aiming for a top 16, you end up fourth. I mean, that must have been a pretty special feeling for yourself, given that you'd sort of been there a couple of times already and had those narrow misses.
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, exactly. I mean, going to that world championships, we didn't really know what to expect. We thought, we'll see how we go trying to make that top 16 and losing the first two games of the world championships and then having to win the rest after that just to make playoffs in the top 16. That was a really good feeling, winning that final game to make it. And yeah, it was pretty eye-opening to see where we could go. And yeah, it gave us a lot of confidence going forward.
BEN WATERWORTH: What's the qualification process for events like this? Maybe we'll talk about the Olympics a little bit separately, but is it a case of Australian competitors have to go through the Pacific? Do we sort of kind of combine with Asia, maybe because there's not as many Pacific nations? I mean, either of you can chime in here to explain it, because I can imagine that it must be tricky for a nation like Australia to get to the World Championships A versus maybe the World Championships B.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, so it depends on the event. So for World Championships for doubles, we were fortunate enough to play in that all-in World Championship in 2019 and sat in that top 16 where we just stay in the A group, and we will do for the following year as well. But if you're to drop out of that A group, then you have to come up through the B group and come top four out of a large group of countries. But then when you're looking at men's or women's, then it changes again. So you have to win nationals out of Australia to be the national team. And then to actually get to world championships, you have to go through the Pacific Asia region. Similar to there's a European region, and you only have a certain number of spots available to actually then get to the world championships. So for example, in general, the average number of spots out of Pacifics is two spots. So you're competing against some pretty good teams, some professional teams, especially from Asia, with the likes of China, Korea, Japan, and then quite a few other good teams around Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Australia, and Kazakhstan is even coming up now. So yeah, it's a long road to play through nationals and then Pacifics just to get to world championships. And yeah, it takes a lot of time away and a lot of work to get there.
BEN WATERWORTH: It sounds almost similar to ice hockey in some levels, how they've got sort of the tiers. Like I know sort of Australia is wanting about tier B or tier C, and then you've got to get into that tier A to get Olympic qualification along those lines, which I mean, the challenges for Australia already in a sport like curling, I can imagine, is big. But I mean, Tahli, what's it sort of like when you're going through these events knowing that, you know, as you were saying before, to get a top 16 to sort of remain in that group, whereas you're up against a lot of nations who, I guess, realistically are going for medals for Australia. It's a matter of survival just to kind of stay in that competition for the next year.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, especially because that was my first Big Worlds event. It was a little bit nerve wracking and especially being a new partnership. It was a little bit like, well, I don't know. But I think that was kind of a strength for us at that event was that we were somewhat the underdogs and we just wanted to go out and have fun and we had absolutely nothing to lose that event. So I think that that was somewhat of a strength for us that we sort of went in. It was a really positive, like go get it kind of attitude and being the underdog definitely helped. But yeah, it was a good experience for sure.
BEN WATERWORTH: Which it's a massive deal, I think, which made little waves here in Australia, which is surprising to finish fourth at a World Curling Championships is massive for a nation like Australia. I mean, are you surprised that this is something that wasn't talked about more? The fact that you guys did make it this deep into a tournament. Obviously, curling is, you know, a very limited sport in the country. But I mean, this is massive for the sport in Australia, I can imagine. I mean, Dean, maybe I'll sort of start with you with that one. Sort of, I mean, was this something that you felt would have brought more exposure to the sport? And we're a bit surprised that it didn't bring as much exposure as it probably should have.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I mean, it brought a little more exposure, a couple of interviews from it. But yeah, it was pretty unknown still to the public about how we did. So hopefully, you know, our goal is to make the Olympics. Hopefully, that brings a bit more marketing and advertising towards the game. Because, you know, for us, we need at least a dedicated curling rink in Australia, and that's something that we don't even have yet. You know, you look at all the teams at world level and they've all got dedicated ice. So it's a tough ball game for us, as it is at the moment. So any kind of promotion of the sport here is just key.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Tahli, for yourself, I can imagine going back to what you were saying about you were known as the curler at high school. I mean, can you then turn around and contact those same people? Like, yeah, the curler who got fourth at a world championships.
TAHLI GILL: I had a few. We sort of did a big post on Instagram sort of saying, this is like the result we got. We're really happy and proud. And you sort of get like every, every now and again, someone being like, that's awesome, that's great. And Australia really is the kind of country that will absolutely back any sport. So it was kind of like, my family was definitely super happy, but I think the biggest thing was getting a lot of support from all the institutes here and sort of having that level of support from our result. That was probably the biggest thing.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of that support then, I mean, is there, is it just comes from the Winter Institute of Australia? I mean, does the AIS get involved kind of? How do you get that support then to help you guys? And how big is that result in terms of, say, the next year going, hey, well, this is what we're capable of. Give us more money, essentially.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I think having support from the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia was really key and as well as our state institutes. We had the Victorian Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport because we are obviously in different states. So having that support, but also just the providers around them too. So in terms of helping us get overseas, as well as strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports psych, all those different avenues, there were things that we just didn't have before and wouldn't have been able to afford to. So that's been so critical for us over the last couple of years since the result. And yeah, really looking forward to work with them a bit further, leading into this qualification event.
BEN WATERWORTH: You mentioned about obviously being in different states and particularly during the current times right now and the times we've been at the moment. I mean, how does that affect the training? I mean, Tahli, I was reading that you put a sock or something on a broom to kind of practice your sweeping on your tiles. But I mean, I guess that kind of doesn't help if Dean's not in the room to throw some, I don't know, socks on the ground as well to pretend they're stones. I mean, how can you two sort of stay up to date with training individually by also trying to work together? Is there sort of a message you can do over Zoom, as silly as that may sound?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, especially during COVID, Zoom was our best friend. It was probably everyone's best friend. But Dean and I did a lot of strategy work over Zoom and sort of quite a lot of logistics, which changed very frequently with COVID. But yeah, just sort of keeping up like in contact and making sure that we are going over strategy, going over even watching our own games, seeing where like we can improve what our strengths are and sort of like developing those or having a plan for those for when we do get on ice. In terms of on ice training though, we both sort of just train that once a week on the multi-sport ranks. And just whenever we meet up, we make sure that we have enough time overseas to train together and sort of iron out all the kinks. But yeah, it is somewhat of a barrier, but we definitely work around it and you kind of have to, I guess. So yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: I don't want you to give away your secrets in case any of your competitors are listening, but I mean, how does a strategy meeting generally work? Can you give us sort of a basic overview of what a strategy is going into a game? Maybe Dean, if you want to kind of chime in first and then Tahli, go for your idea on a strategy meeting.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah. So it kind of varies on what we're trying to work on specifically with strategy, whether we're trying to scout another team and look through what their strategy is and see how we can combat that or even our own games and just reflect on them, seeing, you know, what kind of shots we need to be playing at certain times, what we need to be bailing out, and just kind of setting up a bit of a log around, you know, what is our plan against certain teams, but in general, what are the first few shots of the end that we're going to be playing?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, so a lot of scouting, and I guess sort of like, we even watch games, especially when Canada was having their national events, we watched a lot of those, and seeing how other teams are communicating what sort of strategy they're playing. Did it work? Didn't it work? Because still relatively new, I guess, in terms of like, it's a little bit unknown what to do, especially for the power base. So sort of like trial and error, what works, what doesn't, and seeing what other teams are doing as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: One of the best things I always love about watching curling at the Olympics is the talking fact, is that you get to hear you guys talking, you get to hear the curlers having those strategy conversations, which it's one of the rare sports I feel you get that. Obviously during Tokyo, we got to see a lot more of that with no crowd, so you can literally hear the athletes talking, but it's sort of really, really rare. I mean, in the middle of a match, when you're kind of getting to a certain point, I mean, those strategies obviously have to change and everything, but I mean, just how important is sort of an in-end chat? Like, I mean, and which of the two of you is kind of the motivator? Like, Dean, are you the one going, come on, Tahli, you can do this, or Tahli, are you sort of queen positivity there? I mean, kind of what is the secret to a good curling talk in between ends?
TAHLI GILL: Oh, I think having that chat is important. I think just sort of discussing what happened that end and what our goals are for the next end, that's sort of the basics of it. But I feel like at the start, Dean was definitely a very big motivator because I was a little bit nervous. But I think over time, we both sort of changed between who sort of bring each other up in our own little way. That's what I think.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, and it's funny that you mentioned that around being mic'd up, because you're right, there's not many sports around the world where you actually have the microphone on you the whole time. They can listen in at whatever time they want, with the viewers at least. So you kind of have to be careful about what you say and what you give away. But yeah, it's a cool element of the sport, and it kind of reminds me of that 2020 cricket when they do have a few players mic'd up. But I think one day they'll have a two-way conversation in some of those fun events with the commentators and the players. I'd love to see that.
BEN WATERWORTH: That would be a good idea. Is there any possibility that you can kind of wear a secret earpiece to kind of hear what the others are talking about? Because I know in Formula One, they started broadcasting a lot of the radios, and the teams can obviously listen to the other radios. So curling, maybe? Is this a secret thing you can do? Well, I should make it happen.
DEAN HEWITT: Come on.
BEN WATERWORTH: I want to see that happen ahead of that. After 2019, obviously the 2020 ones were called off, and then went to the ones earlier this year. For yourself as a pair, I can imagine that COVID probably hit a little bit harder. Going back to that fact that you're in different states, can't really train as much as some of these other nations. Dean, I'll start with you for this one. How bad was COVID in the preparations for this year's World Championships, and I guess also in the lead up to Olympic qualification as well?
DEAN HEWITT: I didn't step on ice for over a year. So that was something that I've never really experienced before. So it was a real challenge, and I was lucky enough to have the support of the VIS to provide me with one of their slide boards so I could actually do a mini slide out and do some sweeping on it and whatnot. But yeah, it was tough. That first slide when we had a little training camp before our most recent Worlds, coming out of the hack there, it was pretty unsteady. It was looking a bit dicey. So yeah, it took a while to get back into it again. And I think that was a huge challenge for us and not really actually getting to throw with each other at all as well for well over a year. It was tough and we tried to make the most of it from Sweden, and it was really good to have a training camp there. And we're slowly building up more and more on ice time. And we just in New Zealand had a great training camp over there. But again, that was cut short a little bit from COVID as well. So it's tough.
BEN WATERWORTH: Because they've got the dedicated rink in Nasaby. Nasaby is in it, right? Sort of there. And Silver in the Winter Games and New Zealand in 2019. I have to admit, I didn't know there was such a thing as a New Zealand Winter Games. And I was living in Invercargill and found out they were a thing. So I was lucky enough to go up and watch Australia play New Zealand in one of the ice hockey matches, which was fantastic. But had I known curling was around, I obviously didn't do my research. I could have come and watched you guys, because I would have been there in a heartbeat to watch that in person. Tahli, what's it like to have a dedicated curling rink in this part of the world? Obviously, it's a little bit to the right of us, and you've got to catch a plane there. But it's a little bit closer than having to fly to Sweden, I guess, as Dean was talking about there.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, we actually were just in New Zealand while the bubble was open. So it was really good to catch up with everyone there. And we were saying, you know, it feels so good to be back, because it's practically everyone like curling in Australia. It's our second home. We have all of our nationals there, and we get along so well with the Kiwis. So it's just, yeah, it's good to have that sort of close by. And the New Zealand Winter Games were really good to sort of have that event close to home. Unfortunately, they have been cancelled full curling.
BEN WATERWORTH: Damn.
TAHLI GILL: But yeah, so that is a shame. But yeah, just getting over there and seeing everyone is really good.
BEN WATERWORTH: In terms of now to Beijing, I believe there's a qualifying tournament in December. So Tahli, I'll direct this at you. What's the process? What do you guys need to do to get that Olympic spot for 2022?
TAHLI GILL: So at the moment, we're planning on heading over to Canada. Hopefully, there's a little bit of an opening for fully vaccinated travellers coming up soon. So that's sort of our plan. Our coach, one of our coaches is over there, and getting on ice there and competing in events over there would be really, really crucial for us. Maybe even going to Europe as well, playing in a couple of events over there, because that was something that sort of did hinder us a little bit going into the Last Worlds, was just the lack of events because of COVID. So having the chance to, that would be really good for us going into the OQE.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I suppose building on from that, that OQE, we do need to come top two. So there'll be about 12 or so teams, I think. And we need to get those final two spots to make the Olympics in February.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, so in terms of those 12 teams, though, I mean, kind of are these, what sort of nations are we up against? I mean, what sort of teams? Like kind of, is this something where top two is very achievable? Or, I mean, kind of explain it. What do we have? I want to watch out for this in December to know that if we've got to beat New Zealand, we've got to beat New Zealand. Like, tell me what we're going to do.
DEAN HEWITT: There's quite a few good teams there. That are going to be there. We're at the World Championships we were just at. So, you know, we've got the likes of the US, the Russians, Germany's up there, the Kiwis, we have to beat them as well. So our hope is that we can play the Kiwis in that final game for gold. So we'll see how we go. But yeah, there's quite a good few teams there, you know, professional athletes.
BEN WATERWORTH: And how are you both feeling then? I mean, obviously, Tahli, as you were explaining there, you know, trying to get over there for some more ice time to kind of get that. But I mean, how are you both, I guess, mentally looking towards that now, only a couple of months away from a potential debut Olympic spot for Australia and curling?
TAHLI GILL: I'm actually really excited. Like coming off Worlds, it wasn't the result that we wanted, but definitely the best experience ever to be in that position to, you know, have the chance to go to the Olympics, and we still do. So I'm excited, you know, if we can get to Canada, it'll be awesome to play over there, play against some really great teams. And yeah, I'm just super pumped going into this one. I mean, you don't get this opportunity often, and you've got to go in positive, and yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dean, can you get much sort of help and, I guess, advice from your dad? I mean, you know, as I've said, obviously, curling, you know, in terms of an official medal sport Australia's never been in, but 92 as a demonstration sport, obviously, your dad did compete at those Olympics. I mean, can he give you much sort of advice in terms of what it's like to get to an Olympics and then to compete in Olympics? And does that sort of help you, and then you can pass it on to Tahli?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I think it's always interesting listening to him and his experience at those really big events where there's massive crowds. Now, we don't know if that's going to happen in China or not. It may do, may not. But yeah, just the whole process of everything and those pressure moments, he has that experience there. And I think even we've had the luxury of being able to talk to so many other winter athletes in other sports and their process and their lead up to the Olympics and seeing what they go through as well. It gives you some really valuable insight and even like leading up to the last World Championships, listening to them and how they coped during lockdowns overseas and having to train at the same time and really not being able to socialise with anyone while you're over there was really valuable for us just to have a bit of a heads up leading into those events. So we'll try and dabble a bit more into those other athletes as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: Kind of going back to what we're talking about before about the exposure of the sport after your fourth place in the World Championships. What would it mean to the sport in this country if you guys qualify for the Olympics? Because it would be groundbreaking. Australia never competed in the sport. I mean, Dean, back to your point before, is it kind of a case of that exposure would all of a sudden open up doors and potentially really help boost the sport in this country for the next decade or so?
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, it would be massive. I mean, every Olympics, there is a little increase in curlers across the country. But I think if we can actually get an Australian team there, that would be absolutely huge. I mean, in terms of coverage for a sport during the Olympics, Covelling has the most amount of coverage out of any sport. We cover the whole Olympic period plus more. We actually start before the event even begins. So, yeah, the amount of coverage that we could get and the support from that to hopefully boost our numbers, but also some more training times at the current locations we have, but also on top of that, hopefully be able to get a dedicated curling rink. We've seen how much that's boosted New Zealand and a lot of those countries around the world, which were in the same situation as us without the dedicated curling ice, and that's just improved their numbers and their results exponentially.
BEN WATERWORTH: Tahli, and for yourself, I mean, kind of going on what Dean was saying, I mean, I could imagine for your mum, that would be a pretty proud moment after having watched it on TV on the Olympics all those years ago to get into the sport, to all of a sudden then seeing her daughter potentially represent her country at the Olympics. I mean, I'm not trying to sort of talk this up to the point now where it's all the pressure, but I'm just saying that would be an amazing moment. I can imagine for your mum, should that happen in December?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, yeah. I think even after we got fourth at the Worlds in 2019, that was just huge. My sister also plays curling, so we're sort of in a little women's team together. And I remember being on the phone crying to her. So I would be very emotional. And I think, you know, just to have that achievement, it would just be, it would be huge for Australia. And yeah, I think our parents having been in the sport for so long would just be just so proud. I feel like they're already proud of us anyway. But I hope so.
BEN WATERWORTH: I mean, if they're not, then we might have to have words with them. You know, kind of what's going on there. I mean, what does it take to get a dedicated curling rink in this country? And is it something that is potentially on the cards? I mean, either of you can chime in with that one, but it's kind of, it would be an interesting facility to be built in this country, I can imagine. But I mean, as Dean, you were sort of adding, you get something like that. And that's obviously going to help the sport a lot more moving forward.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, it's massive. At the moment, I think Perth is probably the closest to getting one. They're working really hard, which is great to see. But hopefully, more of the states can start building on that. And if we do make the Olympics, hopefully it gives a bit more of a nudge to get that funding to hopefully build that curling rink. Because they're not cheap, they're not cheap to run. Having this massive ice block and keep that cold over summer is not easy. Doesn't mean that we have to have it open during summer, but at least having a facility there over winter would be just amazing. And it can be paired up with so many other things like restaurants and swimming pools, because the heat exchange between a swimming pool is actually fantastic for both sides. So yeah, there's definitely lots of opportunities in being a sport where anyone from any age, disability and background, it's such an inclusive sport. You know, I was playing World Championships when I was, you know, early 20s. My mum was 60s. So, you know, you can play at the top level at any age and anything is possible, really.
BEN WATERWORTH: You just spur me on now, that realistic nature, that I can maybe make the Olympics, you know. Thanks for that, Dean. I mean, I just saw Andrew Hoy win two Olympic medals at 62. So I'm kind of, you know, it's still possible. I can learn to ride a horse or I can throw a stone down a piece of ice. I mean, I probably go with the stone because I don't know if I could ride a horse. But, you know, who knows? Tahli, I mean, Brisbane, 2032 Olympics, I know it's summer, but I mean, they're building enough facilities and doing some stuff there. Can't you just kind of, you know, quickly have a chat with Anastasia and be like, why are you building these for the summer games? Can you sneakily build a curling house at the same time?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, I might have to make a few bankrolls, but I don't know, I don't have many connections in that kind of realm.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, when you make the Olympics, you will...
TAHLI GILL: . work really hard at that one.
BEN WATERWORTH: Don't worry, when you get that Olympic ticket, you get all the phone numbers.
TAHLI GILL: All those phone numbers.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, exactly. I'll just sneakily go into one of the swimming pools and just freeze it over. So, you know, there you go. You can kind of have that. Well, I mean, Tahli, in all seriousness, sort of talking about your training reagent, I read that you get a broom and what put a sock over it. I mean, kind of take us through what that is and how you guys are able to sort of keep up the training in between when you can get to the ice.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah. So I know Dean does the same, but essentially we just take one of our... I take one of my old curling brooms and just put like a sock over it so it doesn't like totally ruin the broom head. But I just sort of do like interval sweeping sessions on tiles downstairs and just sort of like... You'd sort of try and mimic what you would sweep in a game. So that's about 15 seconds is what we normally do, like 15 seconds on and then off. So yeah, let's try and replicate what you would do on the ice. Obviously, it's not totally the same because you're not really getting that movement as well with your feet as the same as what you would on the ice, but it's definitely better than nothing.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dean, I mean, Tahli just mentioned sort of similar thing. I mean, do you do anything extra on top of that?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, that's probably the key with me too. You know, I've been doing it on my tiled floor for years now. So all the people that think they're all creative from overseas who couldn't get on ice over the last year, thinking that, you know, sweeping on the tiled floor is a good idea. Well, it's been doing it for decades, so that's just a natural thing over here. But yeah, we've had, I've got a slide board, the VIS, which has been key for me. I was just there today actually doing some intervals there, which is great because it has that really slippery surface and can even mimic it for sliding out as well out of the hacks.
BEN WATERWORTH: So what I really appreciate about learning these little hack things is that, you know, everyone grows up watching shows like MacGyver and thinks that, you know, he's amazing by putting these things together with a paper clip and a piece of cheese or something like that. But like, I'm learning that, you know, athletes are exactly the same way. You're putting socks on brooms. We just saw Jess Fox using condoms at the Olympics on a boats to kind of put, you know, things into place there. So I mean, why do we need to watch MacGyver? We can just watch athletes do this. You guys need to have our own TV show here for hacks with this sort of stuff.
DEAN HEWITT: I think it's incredible how many athletes do that. You know, you look back at Dr. Bradman, what did he start with?
BEN WATERWORTH: He's the one who started it. I mean, we've obviously seen the great new facility built in your state, Tahli, for sort of the freestyle athletes there as well. And I mean, the Ice House has done wonders for winter sports in Australia over the last decade. I mean, do you just see this going from strength to strength still in this country? Because, I mean, you know, I grew up in the 90s remembering when, you know, Zali Segal gets a bronze medal. It's like the greatest thing ever. And nowadays, it's kind of like we come back from an Olympics disappointed that we didn't win a gold. I mean, it's just going from strength to strength. Tahli, I mean, sort of, you know, going back to your point about, you know, figure skating, being around winter sports. I mean, have you seen it outside of curling, maybe just grow and grow and see continue to grow in this country?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, especially like you said, having that facility built here in Brisbane for their skiers is just huge. Like, I'm so happy that that's happened for them. And it's exciting to see, you know, where other sports can go. And I know definitely being more involved with the winter sports here in Australia, it's so exciting to hear like all the different things that people do just to train. And it's exciting to see that things are slowly developing, like you said, and going from strength to strength. So it's definitely a bright future ahead for winter sports in Australia.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dean, for yourself with the Ice House, I mean, just how incredible has that been for the sports that are there for the country? And particularly for yourself being in Melbourne, I mean, I can imagine that that's just a place you'd probably never want to live. I've been there a couple of times, and it is such an amazing facility for this country.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, it's fantastic. Having two rinks there is so key. I mean, you can have one sport, which is one side of the rink, which is dedicated to the sports and one side, which is for more public skating. So the availability there is a lot better than what you can have in just a single rink facility, but also to have, you know, a gym there and the OWIA up on the top level. And you have so much support there. And having a rink there with dedicated rings in there, ready to go to play is also key, you know, in a lot of states around the country that had to put in their rings every week just because they went rings already in the ice. So yeah, the support over the years has been great. And yeah, looking forward to hopefully building up a few more nights of curling there, if we can.
BEN WATERWORTH: Have either of you ever been down to Hobart to see the lovely little rink that we have down in our beautiful city down here?
TAHLI GILL: I've never been to Tasmania, but I have heard it's very, very nice. And I do want to go, but no, I've not been to Tasmania.
DEAN HEWITT: No, I heard that it was close to closing, but there was a bit of a petition going around to keep it open.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's for sale. So if you guys want to buy it, you can buy it, and maybe turn that into a dedicated... It is tiny. It is very, very small. I would probably say about a third of a regulation size ring. But going along to watch three on three hockey on a Tuesday night on boards that don't exist, and there's a brick wall there that you can basically get checked into, it's pretty interesting to watch. But if you want to buy it, you're welcome to. They're still looking for a buyer as far as I know.
DEAN HEWITT: I mean, ice is ice. We'll take anything.
BEN WATERWORTH: Exactly. There you go. Got some fun questions to sort of wrap this up in terms of getting to know you guys a little bit better. And what this is from, Team Canada have a My Name Is section on their website where before Olympics, they sadly didn't do it before Tokyo, so I'm hoping they'll bring it back before Beijing. They get some of their athletes and get a bit of a get to know you session with some random things. I'm just actually quickly looking at both your profiles on the OWIA website here, so I'm learning a little bit more about you both here. So Tahli for yourself, you do love some chocolate. You love Queen Bee. So we can maybe bring up some Beyoncé going on there. You say you also love watching ice hockey and volleyball. Do I ask who your NHL team is right now? And you say you like watching ice hockey?
TAHLI GILL: I did this so long ago. I like, I don't follow a particular team. I just like the sport. It's really like quick, it's fast, it's a little bit aggressive. So, I just like watching it, but I don't follow a particular team.
DEAN HEWITT: I thought I converted you to Winnipeg.
TAHLI GILL: I bought a Winnipeg jersey when we were there, so I guess I'm the best.
BEN WATERWORTH: Not the worst Canadian team you could go for, let's be honest. Colin doesn't even go for Winnipeg. He goes for the Leafs and he lives in Winnipeg. I'm a Flames man, so you can judge me as a Flames man. Dean, I'm seeing here, you like ice cream? Yep, you like rock, pop and classics. Cricket going there, Essendon? Yeah, I just don't know about the Essendon thing. How do you feel this will date this probably air after we see hopefully the Bombers choke? I'm a Colton man, so I'm kind of hoping that we take your place. Yeah, how are you feeling though, right now in terms of the last couple of rounds?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, it looks a little dicey for us this year. We've kind of fallen away a little bit late in the season, but you know, looking at the crew that we've got building from the young guys, I think we've got a pretty good future ahead of us, I think.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, we've been saying that for about the last 25 years, so, you know, good luck with that. And actually, quickly, just on the ice hockey thing, are you an ice or a Mustangs man? Oh, gee, we're not getting along well here. I'll hide the Mustangs love. Alright, so we'll get through these questions. Your favourite ever Olympic moment? Let's start with you, Tahli.
TAHLI GILL: Oh, gee. I don't know. I just think, like, when I watch sport, I just love seeing the athletes react to, like, winning gold. So it's more like a collection of moments, really, for me. Just seeing the athletes get their goal or, like, get, you know, work so hard for their dream and they finally achieve it. Just all the emotion. And you can tell it's just, like, all coming out at once. I just, I love those moments. They're cool.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great answer.
DEAN HEWITT: I think it's been really fascinating watching this most recent Olympics and all the moments there, you know, looking at the high jump and they shared a gold medal. Like, it wasn't even hesitation. It was like, yes, we want to share. We don't want to jump for this. But I'd say overall it has to be Cathy Freeman. I mean, the pressure she was under and what she was able to deliver at 2000 was just so amazing, you know, in your home country and everything. Yeah, can't beat it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Always. Yeah, just such an iconic moment. I think every Australian remembers that there. It's funny, actually, two years later, when Bradbury won that gold, it was so different, wasn't it? Not quite the same as Cathy, but I'll never forget that moment when my dad comes home from work and he's like, turn on the radio. I'm like, what's going on? He's like, just turn on the radio. And everybody on the radio, and he's like, breaking news, we've won a gold medal. And I was like, oh, this is great, fantastic. And then you realise how he does it. It was just such an amazing moment. Not to try and compare it to Cathy, but kind of in a way, I put it up there, just saying.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I love that moment.
BEN WATERWORTH: Such an incredible moment. All right, if you could have any superpower, what would it be? Let's start with you, Dean, for this one.
DEAN HEWITT: Telekinesis. Moving things with your mind, I think, is pretty cool. You can do a lot of things with that. Yes, you can put it wherever you want.
BEN WATERWORTH: Wow, Tahli, maybe you need to have that as well, just so that you can go on and not only get even the Olympics gold medal for Australia. There you go.
TAHLI GILL: This is hard because I'm such a nerd, and I love my safety and everything.
BEN WATERWORTH: List them all then, go on.
TAHLI GILL: Maybe I would be like Superwoman. I don't know. I'm all the supermen now. It's hard to choose.
BEN WATERWORTH: So I have to ask, are you Team DC or Team Marvel? Do you have a preference?
TAHLI GILL: Oh, DC all the way. I love Marvel. I love Marvel, but definitely a DC fan.
BEN WATERWORTH: Correct answer. Correct. Dean, let me get your Marvel based on how we're going.
DEAN HEWITT: I just say Marvel just to annoy you.
BEN WATERWORTH: Your favourite sports movie, Tahli, we'll go with you first.
TAHLI GILL: Probably. These are tough questions. Dean, you go first.
DEAN HEWITT: I'm not sure. That's a really tough one.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, I need to look at it. I actually have never seen Cool Runnings.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's the standard for all Australia. Generally, Australian winter movies, it's either Cool Runnings or The Mighty Ducks, right? So, you know, that's kind of where it comes from.
DEAN HEWITT: Mighty Ducks is up there, but I don't know if we've got a favourite.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's all right. We can come back to it. There's something quick in your mind.
TAHLI GILL: Come back to that one.
BEN WATERWORTH: This doesn't qualify you for the Olympics, guys. This is just Off The Podium. There's not that much pressure. Your funniest childhood memory. Dean, let's go with you for this one.
DEAN HEWITT: Funniest. Goodness. I'm drawn a blank, I think.
BEN WATERWORTH: It doesn't have to be appropriate. We're an open podcast.
DEAN HEWITT: I don't know if I've got a funniest moment. I can't even think.
BEN WATERWORTH: I was going to say, Tahli, have you got one while Dean's thinking?
TAHLI GILL: I've got a few. This is really like very Australian.
BEN WATERWORTH: That's what we like. That works.
TAHLI GILL: But we used to go, Mum was really keen for us to go see lots of the outback and that sort of stuff. So we always sort of went on a lot of road trips. And we came across a group of emus, and we were in the car, and Dad goes, should we race them? Should we race them? All three of my, I have two younger sisters, and all three of us had our heads out the window being like, race them, race them. And we actually raced against a pack of emus. I don't know if that's the proper terminology for it, but yeah, and that was just so, I just remember laughing hysterically, and oh, it was so funny.
BEN WATERWORTH: Who won the race?
TAHLI GILL: The emus. Dad tried, but no, they got it. Wow.
BEN WATERWORTH: Dean, I feel like, I don't know if you can top that, if you thought so.
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, I can't. And that's so Australian too. I've got nothing to beat that.
BEN WATERWORTH: Racing emus. There's an Olympic sport for Brisbane 2032, if you're listening.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Your favourite pump up song. Tahli, is this Beyoncé for you? Have you got just Beyoncé going on in the AirPods before you go out there to a match?
TAHLI GILL: Oh, a hundred percent. The queen all the way. It depends because she's got such a good range. So I do like a lot of her pump up songs, but if I'm in like a really, I know before the semi-final, I played Halo. So that was kind of like ready to go after that.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you look like you reacted to that? Were you a bit sick of Beyoncé after those world championships were you, Dean?
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, there's an obsession. That's for sure. I don't know. I get confused sometimes.
BEN WATERWORTH: Do you then, do you just have to quickly switch the playlist in, or do you go in your own world and kind of put on something a little bit different?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I find my own spot. Put my phones in.
BEN WATERWORTH: What's your main one then? What's your song if you're going to one?
DEAN HEWITT: Probably Hall Of Fame by the script. I think that was a big song before the previous Olympics, and I don't know, I just gravitated towards it and loved it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, okay. I like it. Good song. All right. Most recent TV show that you binge watched, Dean, we'll start with you.
DEAN HEWITT: We actually rewatched Friends. I don't know how many times I've watched Friends now. What's wrong with that? When The Reunion came back on, I was like, oh, after what's Reunion, then yeah, we watched the whole seasons again.
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect answer. Tahli, can you top it?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, I'm bingeing Friends at the moment, just because everyone was like, oh, did you see Reunion? And I was like, I actually never watched Friends religiously. I watch it whenever it's on TV, but never like in sequence. So I'm watching that at the moment. I'm almost done. And we did watch a lot of it when we were in New Zealand. Friends at the moment.
BEN WATERWORTH: Friends watching Friends. I like it. Okay, I have to ask you, this isn't on the list, but I've got to ask it now that you brought it up. Which friend are you, Tahli? Like who are you out of the six of them?
TAHLI GILL: I don't know. It probably, I don't know. Who do you reckon, Dean?
DEAN HEWITT: Don't ask me. That is crap.
BEN WATERWORTH: Actually, I like that. I like that. Both of you answer for each other as well as yourselves.
DEAN HEWITT: I've always said that I'm a combination of Ross Chandler and Monica.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yep. Good combination.
DEAN HEWITT: Could it really pick one, which I truly am though?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah. Yeah, probably like Monica, but minus the OCD thing. I'm not very, I'm not very fun being clean.
BEN WATERWORTH: I want you now during the Olympics, you're literally at every single end. I want you to just go, I know. Every single time you do like a good move, essentially. So that's what you've got to do, come Beijing. Friends quotes.
TAHLI GILL: I do have a few catch phrases.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes. I mean, that would be perfect. You would go viral with that. Like the Australian curling team that drops catch phrases all the time. That shit would go viral. You'd be on NBC the next day. So there you go.
TAHLI GILL: We'd be all over TikTok.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yeah, that's the way to expose the sport in this country. The friends. I mean, those Norwegian pants get all the coverage in this country. We don't care about the Norwegian pants anymore. We want the Australian curlers who drop friends quotes. There you go.
DEAN HEWITT: I can just hear Tahli saying like, Can you sweep any harder than that?
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect. Dean, in between ends, you could be looking over to like the Swedes going, how you doing? Or something like that. Just kind of, you know, doing that kind of works. I like it. We were on a break. Well, exactly. There you go. Tahli doesn't share ends or something along those lines. I know both your favourite foods, but what is your least favourite foods, Tahli?
TAHLI GILL: Probably tomato.
BEN WATERWORTH: Yes.
TAHLI GILL: I don't mind sun dried tomato, but yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: I have a lot of...
TAHLI GILL: We actually went through a list. It's more about texture for me. I'm very big on texture with food. And if it's like... I don't know. If it's like a great texture, I won't eat it. But I'm very picky, Dean. Dean will say I'm very picky. I don't eat a lot of food.
DEAN HEWITT: I reckon there's worse things out there than tomato.
BEN WATERWORTH: Give us one. What's a worse thing than tomato?
DEAN HEWITT: Well, brings me back to Sweden, actually, was pickled herring. Yeah, that got me good.
BEN WATERWORTH: Okay, stick away from the Swedish curlers when they offer you food, essentially. That's what you're trying to say. Well, on the topic of food, we have a very food-friendly podcast all of a sudden. Dean, your favourite chip flavor?
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, I'm always a big fan of honey soy chicken.
BEN WATERWORTH: Oh, Tahli, you agree that's your favourite as well?
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, except when we were in Sweden, they had this dill-flavored chip.
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, yes.
TAHLI GILL: They were dangerous.
DEAN HEWITT: They always miss that in Australia. It's dill pickles. Yeah, okay.
BEN WATERWORTH: What about the ketchup and the all-dressed in Canada? Do you guys get involved much in those when you're over that way?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, ketchup for sure. Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: It's underrated. Underrated chip flavor. It should make it this part of the world. All right, Tahli, we'll start with you for this one. If you weren't an athlete, what would you be?
TAHLI GILL: Well, at the moment, I'm studying to be a primary school teacher, so probably that, I guess. Yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: That works. Dean?
DEAN HEWITT: I'm actually an exercise physiologist as well, so that's what I do to make a bit more money when I'm home. Yeah, I'd probably be doing that full time instead of casually.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great. And how does that work then, like going to work and all of a sudden going, oh, what are you doing this weekend? Oh, just, you know, watching the footy, whatever. Oh, just trying to qualify for the Olympics. I mean, is that just kind of just a standard conversation you have with work colleagues for both of you?
DEAN HEWITT: It always is a funny conversation when you bring up that you're a curler and, you know, you're heading overseas and whatnot, but they're pretty supportive and they're pretty, you know, motivating to say, you know, go do what you want to do and try to achieve that ultimate dream.
BEN WATERWORTH: One thing I'm trying to get, I think, for both, for all our winter athletes ahead of Beijing is, of course, Channel 7 will have the lovely little montages and the 58 interviews they'll do with you beforehand. Like, I want you to try and, like, drop a word in somewhere. Like, not a bad word, but, like, a friend's word. Like, just somehow drop something in when, you know, you've got Mel McLaughlin in your face interviewing you, creating history. I mean, can we do that? Can we put some sort of word that you can kind of a bit of nod to this interview for Channel 7?
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I think we can drop something. I don't mind trying to do that.
BEN WATERWORTH: I don't know.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, yeah.
BEN WATERWORTH: Come up with it. The word Ross, you need to use the word Ross. I don't know how, but you can use the word Ross in your Mel McLaughlin interview on Channel 7. How does that sound?
DEAN HEWITT: It's going to be tough, but challenge accepted.
BEN WATERWORTH: Challenge accepted. Good. All right. I'm getting people dropping the name Ross. I'm trying to get our bobsledders to name their sleds after me. It's going to happen, all right? Beijing is the Olympics of Off The Podium. It's happening. Your favourite vacation spot is Tahli.
TAHLI GILL: That's tough because I don't think I've been on many vacations. I would love to go to Greece. That has been my pinup. I want to go to that destination. I've never been, but it looks really nice. I feel like that's my number one destination for a vacation.
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect, Dean.
DEAN HEWITT: Rocky Mountains in Canada. I've been there from summer and winter. I just love the place and how blue the water is. You look at the photos you see online, and you get there and you're like, yeah, that's right. It is that blue.
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect. Great. The final one here, maybe I'll get you to do this for each other. So the question is, what do people usually describe me as? I'm going to go with Dean, you can describe Tahli and Tahli, you can describe Dean. Let's start with you, Dean. What would you describe Tahli as?
DEAN HEWITT: Oh, what would I say? Very bubbly, loves a challenge, and loves a bit of chocolate.
BEN WATERWORTH: Perfect. Alright, Tahli, what about Dean?
TAHLI GILL: Dean, I think, I know people have said that you're very, you know, like determined, pretty competitive, and a great sportsman. Really good sport.
BEN WATERWORTH: Look at that. Look at this, the bonding nature on this show. It's taken to a next level. Guys, it has been a lot of fun chatting to you both today. Now, I'll give a bit of a plug here. Team underscore Gill underscore Hewitt. People can follow you on Instagram. Is there anywhere else that people can kind of follow? Do you have your own individual ones that you want to share or kind of plug anything else? Tahli, go for your life. Open slather, plug whatever you want.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, we both got our own individual ones. Mine's Tahli underscore Gill. And we also have a Facebook page as well.
BEN WATERWORTH: Great, Dean.
TAHLI GILL: I think Dean, you've got an individual one too.
DEAN HEWITT: Yeah, I've got an individual of D Huey, H-E-W-Y 24. And that's just on Instagram as well. So follow along.
BEN WATERWORTH: Hit up the gram, everybody. Kind of do it that way. I'm just thinking back to 1984, very famous Winter Olympic pair of Torval and Dean. So we've now got Tahli and Dean. I'm sure you guys never get that at all, do you? At all. Never.
DEAN HEWITT: Never heard that, actually. I know of Torval, Dean, but never heard that. Referred to it.
BEN WATERWORTH: Channel 7, you can take it. You can take it for Beijing, because they will. You know they will. And then they're going to run to the hills, and they'll be like, oh, we thought of this great. No. All right. This is an Off The Podium special. But in all seriousness, we are so looking forward to seeing you guys what you can do for the rest of this year. And get that spot. Breakthrough for Australia. Curling at the Olympics. Prove it's possible. Do it for Australia. Go on. Represent and then win the gold. Bradbury it up on the 20th anniversary next year in Beijing. Let everyone else fall over, and you guys can do it. Tahli, first of all to you, thank you. It's been a lot of fun chatting with you.
TAHLI GILL: Yeah, thank you so much. This is like so much fun, and we'll do our best to break through for you and drop a few friends quotes in there as well along the way.
BEN WATERWORTH: And Dean, yeah, we'll forgive the ice, the jets and the bombers, but it has been a pleasure chatting with you today on the show as well.
DEAN HEWITT: Thanks, man. Appreciate it.
BEN WATERWORTH: And a massive, massive thanks to Tahli and Dean there. Great insight, and I'm very excited to see them qualify ahead of Beijing. Big deal, that would be. Massive, massive deal for Australia to have curlers at an officially sanctioned curling event. Obviously, Albaville, it was a demonstration sport, but to have it during when it's a proper sport, and not to take away from being a demonstration sport, you know what I mean? A proper medal, official sport of the Olympic Games, and genuine medal chance as well. Fourth World Championships, as we talked about there. So we hope, very much so, for Tahli and Dean's sake, that they get there and they bring home a medal, because we're gonna see that happen. You know, I'm genuinely right when it comes to those predictions, right? Next week on the show, we return to the sport of biathlon. Of course, we spoke to Sarah last week. We're back to it next week. Scott Gao, Canadian biathlete, competed in Pyeongchang and is on the road, once again, to Beijing. Now, he's a World Championship bronze medallist from 2016, as part of the relay team there. And Canada, it's an interesting history. You would have heard us talk a little bit about that to Sarah last week about biathlon and Canada at the Winter Olympics. As an Australian, you just assume that Canada's good at all winter sports, that this is a sport that they would genuinely pick up lots of medals in. They haven't medaled in biathlon since 1994. And a male athlete has never medaled in the sport of biathlon at the Winter Olympics for Canada. So Scott goes into some great talks about his hopes ahead of Beijing, how he got involved in the sport, and a very unique hobby that Scott has. They got him very excited during the Olympic Games. So I'm very much excited for you guys to hear that and learn a little bit more about Scott and his unique career and his unique hobbies. That's next week on Off The Podium. In the meantime, if you wanna stay up to date with everything to do with Off The Podium, hit us up on social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, as well as subscribing to us on all the podcast services. Just stay up to date to get all of these directly to your devices wherever you are in the world. We of course hope you're enjoying the show as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. Big thanks to Tahli and Dean once more. We'll be back next week. Thanks for tuning in. My name is Ben. This has been Off The Podium. I'll speak to you then. Good night.
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