(by Thinh Nguyen)

Charlottetown-born curler Brett Gallant celebrated his birthday this year with a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics.

Gallant played second for the Brad Gushue rink in Friday’s bronze medal game in men’s curling where they defeated Olympic champion John Shuster and the United States 8-5 at the Ice Cube in Beijing.

Brett Gallant, right, played second for Canada’s Brad Gushue curling team (CBC Sports)

This is probably his best birthday gift yet, said Gallant, who turned 32 on Friday.

“It’s pretty special, a very special moment and to share it with these guys means the world to me,” he said.

“I think the bronze is going to feel pretty special once the sting of [not winning] the gold wears off.”

The occasion was even more special for him as he shared a kiss with his fiancée Jocelyn Peterman on the ice upon his team’s win, and he had his father Peter Gallant with him in Beijing this week.

“I don’t get to see them a lot while we’re competing but having them here for that moment was certainly really really nice,” he said.

Click to read the full story at CBC PEI: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-brett-gallant-medal-1.6357330