Brett Gallant reflects on his gold medal performance at the 2026 Olympic Games

A lifetime of effort led to a moment of glory for P.E.I.’s Brett Gallant, who was a part of Team Canada’s gold medal Olympic curling team.

Gallant was second on Team Brad Jacobs — consisting of skip Jacobs, third Marc Kennedy, Gallant and lead Ben Hebert — at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games in Italy, securing the gold medal against Great Britain’s Team Bruce Mouat with a 9-6 win on Feb. 21.

Speaking with CBC’s Compass on Wednesday, Gallant called the accomplishment an “incredible” feeling as reality starts to hit since the win. 

“As an athlete, I've spent a lot of time, you know, chasing this goal and trying to get to the ... top of this podium,” he said. 

“To achieve that goal and to kind of achieve that dream, it's pretty incredible. And it's just starting to sink in over the last couple of days here.”

Gallant said the medal has been getting a lot of attention, with passers-by on the street or in the airport asking the two-time Olympic medallist (he won bronze in the 2022 Beijing Games) for a look at the gold.

“They all want to see it. And it's been pretty cool to just share it with some people who've been watching the curling over the past few weeks at the Olympics.”

The No. 1 team in the world, Team Mouat also consists of third Grant Hardie, second Bobbie Lammie and lead Hammy McMillan Jr. 

Gallant said going into the final game, his teammates knew the endeavour would not be easy and they had to “bring our best” to take home the gold medal

“And you saw a lot, I think, excitement kind of pour out of our bodies and just the celebrations just started there and they continued for a little while after that game ended,” he said.

“It was pretty cool to get to experience that moment. My wife and son were there in the stands and just to kind of celebrate with them afterwards. That was an incredible feeling and something I'll never forget.”

Gallant’s father, Peter, who made nine Brier appearances and is a 2020 inductee into the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame, commended his son’s achievement in Italy. Speaking with CBC’s Mainstreet, Peter reflected to his son’s work over the years and said the gold medal is something Gallant aimed to win since childhood. 

“It's crazy to think that everything he's put into it and all the hard work he's put into it over the years,” Peter said.

“They reached this goal and now he's got it. So it's just – it's pretty amazing.”