Jim Armstrong (curler)
Encyclopedia
Dr. James P. Armstrong (born June 30, 1950 in Victoria, British Columbia
) is a former Canadian
curler and current wheelchair curler
from Richmond, British Columbia
. He was a successful curler for much of his earlier career until he had to stop playing because of bad knees and a car accident in 2003. In 2007 he made the transition to wheelchair curling after knee and back injuries. He quickly began to be very good in the sport, winning the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championship
and a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
.
Armstrong began curling at eight, and by the age of 22 he made his first Brier, playing second for British Columbia, skipped by Jack Tucker. The team finished 5-5 at that 1973 MacDonald Brier. Armstrong skipped B.C. in the following Brier, placing third with a 6-4 record.
Armstrong wouldn't make another Brier for 9 years, when he played third for Bernie Sparkes
at the 1983 Labatt Brier. The team finished third once again, losing to Ontario's Ed Werenich
in the semi-final. The team made the 1984 Labatt Brier in Victoria, but only finished 6-5. They made it back to the Brier in 1987, where they lost in the final to Ontario's Russ Howard
. Armstrong played in his last Brier in 1992
. Armstrong skipped the B.C. team to a 5-6 finish.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
.
His wife of 29 years, died in September 2009. She had been diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
Armstrong, and his son, was arrested in April, 2010 for trafficking counterfeit goods after he was accused of smuggling Chinese-made pills labeled Viagra and Cialis into Canada from Washington. His son were to sell them in nightclubs, and said he had been selling such pills for three years. Armstrong plead guilty in October 2010 and had to pay a $30,000 fine as well as perform community service, while his son was “banned” from the University of B.C., and got one year and one day in jail.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
) is a former Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler and current wheelchair curler
Wheelchair curling
Wheelchair curling is an adaptation of curling for athletes with a disability affecting their lower limbs or gait. Wheelchair curling is governed by the World Curling Federation, and is one of the sports in the Winter Paralympic Games....
from Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
. He was a successful curler for much of his earlier career until he had to stop playing because of bad knees and a car accident in 2003. In 2007 he made the transition to wheelchair curling after knee and back injuries. He quickly began to be very good in the sport, winning the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championship
World Wheelchair Curling Championship
The World Wheelchair Curling Championship is an annual world championship held to determine the world's best team in wheelchair curling. It is held every non-Paralympic year.-Medalists:...
and a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics
2010 Winter Paralympics
The 2010 Winter Paralympics, officially the X Paralympic Winter Games, or the 10th Winter Paralympics, were held in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Opening Ceremony took place in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Closing Ceremony in Whistler...
.
Armstrong began curling at eight, and by the age of 22 he made his first Brier, playing second for British Columbia, skipped by Jack Tucker. The team finished 5-5 at that 1973 MacDonald Brier. Armstrong skipped B.C. in the following Brier, placing third with a 6-4 record.
Armstrong wouldn't make another Brier for 9 years, when he played third for Bernie Sparkes
Bernie Sparkes
Bernard L. Sparkes is a former world champion curler.Sparkes's first major curling championship success came when he won the 1957 Alberta Schoolboys...
at the 1983 Labatt Brier. The team finished third once again, losing to Ontario's Ed Werenich
Ed Werenich
Edward Werenich is a Canadian curler. Nicknamed "The Wrench," Werenich has been known to be a colourful and outspoken character. Outside of curling, Werenich worked as a firefighter....
in the semi-final. The team made the 1984 Labatt Brier in Victoria, but only finished 6-5. They made it back to the Brier in 1987, where they lost in the final to Ontario's Russ Howard
Russ Howard
Russell W. "Russ" Howard, ONL is a Canadian curler and Olympic champion, based in Moncton, New Brunswick, but originally from Midland, Ontario. His home club in Moncton is Curling Beausejour...
. Armstrong played in his last Brier in 1992
1992 Labatt Brier
The 1992 Labatt Brier was held March 8-15 at the Agridome in Regina, Saskatchewan. Vic Peters of Manitoba defeated Russ Howard of Ontario through extra ends in the final.-Standings:-Playoffs:-Final:March 15, 1992-References:*...
. Armstrong skipped the B.C. team to a 5-6 finish.
In 1990, he was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
Canadian Curling Hall of Fame
The Canadian Curling Hall of Fame was established with its first inductees in 1973. It is operated by the Canadian Curling Association in Orleans, Ontario....
.
Personal life
He worked as a dentist, until he sold his practice in 2003. He had first decided to take a year off, to get knee surgery on both knees, but after the first knee was replaced, he had a car accident, where his recently repaired knee was slammed into the dashboard, and he had to have more surgeries on the replaced knee, as well as the scheduled surgery on the other knee. Over this period he could not work and had to sell his practice.His wife of 29 years, died in September 2009. She had been diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
Armstrong, and his son, was arrested in April, 2010 for trafficking counterfeit goods after he was accused of smuggling Chinese-made pills labeled Viagra and Cialis into Canada from Washington. His son were to sell them in nightclubs, and said he had been selling such pills for three years. Armstrong plead guilty in October 2010 and had to pay a $30,000 fine as well as perform community service, while his son was “banned” from the University of B.C., and got one year and one day in jail.
External links
- Profile at the Canadian Paralympic CommitteeCanadian Paralympic CommitteeThe Canadian Paralympic Committee - CPC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian Paralympic athletes in the International Paralympic Committee and the Parapan American Games...
's website