Meet Team World

The Continental Cup of Curling will take place December 18th to the 21st. This event is normally held between Team Northa America—which consists of the best teams from Canada and the United States—and Team Europe. But this year, the Europeans will be joined by two very, very powerful Asian teams to form the first ever "Team World".

The European components of team world are no surprise: former world champion David Murdoch and Norwegian champion Thomas Ulsrud. But rounding out the men's team will be Fengchun Wang of China, who shocked the world by bringing Kevin Martin's twenty-game-winning-streak to a screaching halt during the 2008 World Men's Championship. If you think Team World looks powerful on the men's side... just wait till you hear who will form the women's half of the team: multi-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Anette Norberg, Olympic broze medalist Mirjam Ott and—this year's biggest surprise—World silver-mealist Bingyu Wang of China, who defeated Canada's Jennifer Jones twice during the 2008 World Women's Championship.

So who do you get to lead such an experienced and dangerous concoction of curlers? Norway's 2002 Olympic gold medalist, Paal Trulsen, was named Team Captain. The coach for Team World will be none other than three-time world champion Peja Lindholm from Sweden.

For those of you doing the math, that makes a ridiculous total of thirty three medals from World Championships and Olympics for this team.

After the World's roster for this year's Continental Cup, North America is going to have to find some way to stand up against the incredible fire-power of Team World if they want to defend their title and become back-to-back Continental Cup champions for the first time ever in the event's history.

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