N.S. senior who took up curling in her 80s is still rocking the sport over a decade later

Jean Mckiel, 94, took up curling in her eighties and still rocking the sport.

Jean McKiel started curling in her eighties, now at the age of 94 she is still playing three times a week.

“I just thought I could do it. I never gave it a thought that I couldn’t. So, one of the girls at the rink took me along and I started playing. Same with golf in the summer, I love it,” she says.

“It sounds funny because I’m so much older than everyone else, but I can still beat them sometimes and that’s fun.”

The president of the Lunenburg Curling Cub, Craig Munroe says McKiel is beloved member of the club.

“Jean’s very well known and very beloved. She knows how to curl; she golfs as well. She used to take care of the gardens at the golf course, she volunteered doing that till recently,” says Munroe.

“They are called ‘Day Ladies’ they curl every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. We think she is one of the oldest curlers in Canada. She is certainly the oldest in our club and she’s the oldest golfer in our club as well. She still very agile and she still sweeps,” he adds.

Judy Wagner is one of the curlers at the club, she says Jean is an inspiration to all of them.

“Jean and I meet about 15 years ago. She is a pillar of our community, she loves life, she loves everybody in the community. She would do anything for anybody. She has inspired me; I hope I can do at 85 what she’s doing at 94.”

“The friendship, the people, the fun that we have. I’m still trying to beat other teams. It doesn’t matter that I’m older than everybody here. They don’t mind and I don’t mind, and they are wonderful,” says McKiel.

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