When Russ Howard looks at his gold medal from the Turin Olympics last February, he feels a great sense of accomplishment. But when he looks at the monthly bill from his gold credit card, he still shakes his head in disbelief.
It's been a year since Howard led a youthful Newfoundland and Labrador team to victory at the Canadian Curling Trials, culminating nine weeks later with a gold medal at Turin.
But the Moncton resident is still trying to pay off the debts he incurred at the Games. Despite capturing the attention of the country and almost bringing Newfoundland and Labrador to a standstill during the gold-medal game, Howard and teammates Brad Gushue, Mark Nicols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam have not enjoyed the benefits that have gone to many other Olympians.
While speed skater Cindy Klassen has reportedly signed endorsement deals in excess of $1-million (some put it closer to $2-million), Howard's team has only a single arrangement that won't even net each player $10,000.
"I never started curling to get rich," Howard said, "but you just hear so much about what the gold medal is worth and see what other athletes have managed and certainly there's some disappointment."
Part of that stems from the fact Howard spent $24,000 on his Olympic journey, most of that to bring his wife and two children to Italy for the Games. From flights to accommodation to tickets, the bills added up in a hurry.
"I certainly never expected the government or sponsors or whoever to pick up the cost of bringing every aunt, uncle and cousin, but I guess I just thought there would be some help," he said. "You don't really think about that when you first become an Olympian."
Howard said his representative, Landmark Sport Group, which also handles Klassen, has some irons in the fire and he's hopeful some arrangements will transpire. But he's also a realist.
"I guess that's curling," he said. "We're just not sexy enough."
Certainly, public recognition for Howard is not a problem. It's as high for him as any Canadian athlete.
A walk with him through Moncton this fall became an exercise in patience as he was stopped every few feet by another well-wisher. Likewise at the Toronto airport, where after watching the reaction to his trip through the terminal, an argument could be made that he's more recognizable than most Toronto Maple Leafs players.
The expense and lack of endorsements aren't the only disappointments of the Games for Howard. There were problems throughout the competition, such as the logistical arrangements, which were nothing short of horrendous. (Consider that the driver for the Canadian team spoke no English and the team had to communicate by drawing pictures on paper.)
The families had it even worse. Hotel reservations in the village outside Pinerolo, where the curling event was held, were non-existent when they arrived, seemingly wiped off the books to accommodate the Russian hockey team.
After days of bargaining, pleading, begging and being put up in unacceptable alternate accommodations, Wendy Howard, who has seen a great deal while travelling with her husband over the years, finally told the hotel manager she was going to camp out in the lobby until he provided a room, which he finally did. That facility, however, was a long way from the curling venue and a combination of three-kilometre walks and taxis was needed to get back and forth. To make it to the medal presentation in Turin, the families had to leave eight hours in advance of the ceremony so they could make all the connections for what was a 45-minute drive by car.
But to say that Howard hasn't benefited from his Olympic win would be incorrect — and he's quick to acknowledge that. He receives funding from Sport Canada and is coming out with a book in March (written with your humble scribe). The notoriety has also helped his real-estate business and he's aligned with a number of charities, such as the Canadian Liver Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy Canada, something he feels very strongly about. He has also kept up a long-time relationship with AMJ Campbell, the moving company that has sponsored his provincial curling teams since 1996.
Over all, Howard said, his Turin trip was remarkable. At 50, he never thought he'd experience winning an Olympic gold medal.
It's just disappointing that the journey — both during and after — has been along one bumpy road.
