By Paul Osborne

The 10 curlers who will represent Canada at Sochi 2014 have been announced ©Getty ImagesDecember 9 - Canada has revealed the 10 athletes who are formally nominated onto the men's and women's teams for Sochi 2014.

The women's team will be led by four time Canadian champion and former world gold medallist Jennifer Jones, who finally makes it to the biggest international stage on her third time of trying.

"I am so excited to be representing Canada in Sochi," she said.

"This is something that I have looked forward to for many years, and all the hours of training and hard work have finally paid off.

"I can assure curling fans from every corner of our country that we are going to do our best to bring home the gold."

She will be joined by teammates Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen and Kirsten Wall.

Jennifer Jones celebrates with her team after winning the Roar of the Rings event securing their spot at Sochi 2014 ©Getty ImagesJennifer Jones celebrates with her team after winning the Roar of the Rings event securing their spot at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images



Jill Officer has been playing with Jones since they were junior competitors and, in 2007, Dawn McEwen (formerly Askin) joined the team as lead.

Together, that trio would win three consecutive Scotties Tournament of Hearts - formally the Canadian Women's Curling Championships - in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

In August 2010, Kaitlyn Lawes, a two-time Canadian junior champion skip, joined the team at third.

The foursome was runners-up at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2011 and 2013 and finished third in 2012.

Wall joined the team for the first half of the 2012/2013 playing third, as Jones was expecting her first child and sat out until January.

The men's team will comprise of Brad Jacob at skip, Ryan Fry, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden and Caleb Flaxey.

"It has been a long road to get to this moment and it has been worth every minute of training we put in," said Jacobs.

"I can't wait to walk onto the ice in Sochi with my team and give it everything we've got to try and represent Canada with pride."

The foursome began playing together in the 2012-2013 season and enjoyed immediate success, winning the first Brier title for Northern Ontario since 1985 and adding a World Championship silver medal.

Brad Jacobs and his team beat Team Morris in the final of the Roar of the Rings at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ©Getty ImagesBrad Jacobs and his team beat Team Morris in the final of the Roar of the Rings at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ©Getty Images



The two teams were chosen to represent Canada following the Roar of the Rings competition - Canada's Olympic Trials - with each coming out on top of their respective gender categories.

"This past week of competition has been outstanding and I am so proud of the state of curling in our country," said Greg Stremlaw, chief executive of the Canadian Curling Association.

"The athletes nominated to the Sochi 2014 team are great athletes and I'm excited at the potential for success in Russia.

"On behalf of the entire Canadian Curling Association family, I want to congratulate all ten members -– we will all be cheering you on!"

Canada has a strong history in curling Olympics with the men's team having collected two gold medals and two silvers, and the women winning a gold, a silver and two bronze, since its inauguration into the Olympic programme in 1998.

"Canada's curling history is remarkable, and this year's talent is no exception as is clearly reflected in the team announced today," said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

"On behalf of the entire Canadian Olympic Committee and curling fans across the country, I would like to congratulate all ten team members who I know will do Canada proud on the ice in Sochi."

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