Marc Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marc Kennedy
Curler
Kennedy at the 2016 World Men's Curling Championship
Born	(1982-02-05) February 5, 1982 (age 43) St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Team
Curling club	Saville Community SC Edmonton, AB
Skip	Brad Jacobs
Third	Marc Kennedy
Second	Brett Gallant
Lead	Ben Hebert
Career
Member Association	Alberta (1998–2018, 2022–present)  Northern Ontario (2019–2022)
Brier appearances	13 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
World Championship appearances	4 (2008, 2009, 2016, 2021)
Olympic appearances	3 (2010, 2018, 2022)
Top CTRS ranking	1st (2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2019–20)
Grand Slam victories	17 (2004 Players', 2007 Canadian Open (Jan.), 2007 National (Mar.), 2007 Players', 2007 Canadian Open (Dec.), 2010 Canadian Open, 2010 Players', 2010 National (Dec.), 2011 Players', 2014 Players', 2015 Tour Challenge, 2018 Players', 2019 Tour Challenge, 2019 National, 2020 Canadian Open, 2023 Canadian Open, 2023 Champions Cup)
Medal record Men's Curling Representing  Canada Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver Team Bronze 2022 Beijing Team World Curling Championships Gold 2008 Grand Forks Gold 2016 Basel Silver 2009 Moncton The Brier Silver 2017 St. John's Universiade Gold 2003 Tarvisio Representing  Alberta The Brier Gold 2008 Winnipeg Gold 2009 Calgary Gold 2016 Ottawa Bronze 2024 Regina Canadian Olympic Curling Trials Gold 2009 Edmonton Gold 2017 Ottawa Silver 2021 Saskatoon Bronze 2005 Halifax Bronze 2013 Winnipeg Canada Winter Games Gold 1999 Corner Brook Representing Wild Card The Brier Bronze 2023 London

Marc Kennedy, born on February 5, 1982, is a famous Canadian curler. He won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Marc is from St. Albert, Alberta. He currently plays as the third for Team Brad Jacobs. In 2019, a poll by TSN called him the greatest Canadian male second curler ever!

Marc Kennedy's Curling Journey

Marc Kennedy started curling when he was just six years old. He grew up in St. Albert, Alberta. As a young curler, he won the Canadian Winter Games and three provincial junior championships. He won his first men's provincial championship in 2007 with his team led by Kevin Martin.

Early Career and Junior Success

In his junior years, Marc played as the second for Carter Rycroft at the 1998 Canadian Junior Curling Championships. He also played as the third for Jeff Erickson in the 1999 and 2001 Canadian Junior Championships.

In 2003, Marc was an alternate player for a team from Brandon University. This team, skipped by Mike McEwen, won a gold medal at the 2003 Winter Universiade.

Joining Top Teams

After John Morris, a two-time World Junior Champion, moved to Alberta in 2003, Marc joined his team as the second. In 2004, they reached the final of the Canada Cup, but lost to Randy Ferbey's team.

In 2006, Marc and John Morris joined Kevin Martin's new team. Kevin Martin was already a two-time Brier champion.

Olympic Gold and World Titles

With Kevin Martin's team, Marc Kennedy won the Brier and the World Championships in 2008. They won the Brier again in 2009, going undefeated for the second year in a row. They even set a record for winning 26 Brier games in a row!

In 2010, Marc achieved his biggest dream. He won an Olympic Gold Medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Team Canada, with Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy, and Ben Hebert, beat Norway 6-3 in the gold medal game.

Later Career and New Teams

After winning the Alberta provincials in 2011, Marc and Team Martin went to the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier. They had a great record but lost in the playoffs. Marc had to leave the Brier early because his wife was having a baby.

In 2013, Marc and Team Martin won the Alberta provincials again. They then played in the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier in their hometown of Edmonton. Marc also won the "Ford Hot Shots" skills competition before the main event.

After Kevin Martin retired in 2014, Marc joined Team Kevin Koe as the third. They played in the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier but missed the playoffs. In December 2015, they won the Canada Cup, which earned them a spot in the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. The team continued their success by winning the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier and a gold medal at the 2016 World Men's Curling Championship.

Team Koe represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics, finishing fourth.

Taking a Break and Joining Team Jacobs

After the 2017-18 season, Marc decided to take a break from competitive curling. He wanted to heal from injuries and spend more time with his family. He also started working for Curling Canada.

In 2018, he was asked to play for Team Brad Jacobs at the 2018 Canada Cup. He helped them win the event. In March 2019, Marc officially joined Team Jacobs. They had a great start, winning three Grand Slam events in a row. They also won the 2020 Northern Ontario Men's Provincial Curling Championship. At the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, they made it to the playoffs but lost.

During the 2020-21 season, Marc also served as an alternate for the Brendan Bottcher team at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship.

2022 Winter Olympics

Marc Kennedy was named as an alternate for the Brad Gushue team for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. His team won the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, beating Team Jacobs in the final. At the Olympics, Marc's team won the bronze medal.

Life Outside Curling

Marc Kennedy is married to Nicole Kennedy, and they have two daughters. His brother, Glen, is also a curler.

Marc has a marketing degree from the University of Alberta. He used to own an M&M Meat Shops franchise but sold it in 2012 to focus more on curling. He also worked as a real estate agent.

Marc and Nicole started a youth curling event in 2016 called the Marc Kennedy Junior Classic. It's held in St. Albert and Edmonton. This event has grown to be one of the largest youth curling events in the world!

When he was younger, Marc also played Canadian football for the Edmonton Huskies.

Teams Marc Kennedy Has Played With

From left: Kevin Martin, John Morris, Kennedy, Ben Hebert

Awards and Recognitions

Marc Kennedy has received many awards for his curling skills:

• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Second) 2007
• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Second) 2008
• World Curling Tour MVP 2008
• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Second) 2009
• University Of Alberta Award of Excellence 2010
• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Second) 2011
• Canadian Curling Championship Second Team All Star (Second) 2013
• Canadian Curling Championship Second Team All Star (Third) 2015
• TSN Top Male Second Of All Time 2019
• TSN #8 Top Male Player Of All Time 2019
• Canadian Curling Championship Second Team All Star (Third) 2020
• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Third) 2022
• Canadian Curling Championship First Team All Star (Third) 2024

See also

In Spanish: Marc Kennedy para niños

• List of Canadian sports personalities