View source for Atina Ford

{{Short description|Canadian curler (born 1971)}}
:''Atina Ford Johnston is not to be confused with [[Anita Ford]], her mother and former coach''
{{Infobox curler
| name = Atina Ford Johnston
| image = 
| image_size = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|10|12|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Gray, Saskatchewan]], Canada
| Curling club = [[Okotoks Curling Club]], [[Okotoks]]
| Skip = 
| Third =
| Second = 
| Lead = 
| Alternate = 
| Member Association = {{SK}} (1988–2001)<br>{{AB}} (2001–Present)
| Hearts appearances = 2 ({{STOH|1997}}, {{STOH|1998}})
| Other appearances = [[World Senior Curling Championships|World Senior Championship]]: 1 ({{WSCC|2025}})
| medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Women's [[curling]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{CAN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Curling at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]]|[[Curling at the 1998 Winter Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Curling Championships|World championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1997 Ford World Women's Curling Championship|1997 Berne]] | [[List of women's World Curling champions|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Junior Curling Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[1991 World Junior Curling Championships|1991 Glasgow]] |Team}}
{{Medal|Country | {{SK}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Scotties Tournament of Hearts]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts|1997 Vancouver]] | }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1998 Scott Tournament of Hearts|1998 Regina]] | }}
{{Medal|Competition | [[Canadian Olympic Curling Trials]]}}
{{Medal|Gold | [[1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials|1997 Brandon]] | }}
}}

'''Atina Ford Johnston''' (born October 12, 1971; {{nee}} '''Ford''') is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[Curling|curler]] originally from [[Gray, Saskatchewan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Atina Ford File|date=February 7, 1998|page=G14|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49664913/the-leader-post/|accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> She is best known as the alternate of the [[Sandra Schmirler]] team, with whom she is an Olympic Champion ([[Curling at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998]]),<ref name=db-ol1998>[http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=44&sp=CUR "1998 Winter Olympics &ndash; Nagano, Japan  &ndash; Curling"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825195341/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=44&sp=CUR |date=2007-08-25 }} &ndash; ''databaseOlympics.com'' (Retrieved on March 20, 2008)</ref> {{WWCC||World women's champion}} ({{WWCC|1997}}) and {{STOH||Canadian women's champion}} ({{STOH|1997}}).

==Early life==
Ford is the daughter of curlers [[Gary Ford (curler)|Gary]] and [[Anita Ford]], and grew up in the hamlet of [[Gray, Saskatchewan]]. In addition to curling, she figure skated, and played ice hockey and [[fastpitch softball|fastball]] as a youth.<ref name="Gray">{{cite web|url=https://www.hamletofgrayhistory.com/atina-ford.html|title=Atina (Ford) Johnston}}</ref> She attended [[Sheldon-Williams Collegiate]] in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] for high school, and led a team to the provincial high school final in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reube takes title|date=March 6, 1989|page=10|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160498239/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Curling career==
===Juniors===
Ford had a successful junior career, reaching its pinnacle in 1990. She led her rink of [[Darlene Kidd]], [[Leslie Beck]] and sister [[Cindy Simmons|Cindy]] to a provincial championship, defeating Marla Miller in the Saskatchewan junior final.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ford runs over competition|date=February 19, 1990|page=10|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160498648/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team then went on to represent Saskatchewan at the [[1990 Canadian Junior Curling Championships]], played in the [[Sudbury, Ontario|Sudbury]], [[Ontario]] suburb of [[Garson, Ontario|Garson]]. Ford led her team to an 8–2 round robin record, and then won both their playoff games, including Manitoba's Nancy Malanchuk rink in the final. The team then went on to represent Canada at the [[1991 World Junior Curling Championships]] in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]. There, she led her team to an undefeated record in the round robin, only to lose in the semifinal to Sweden's [[Eva Lund|Eva Eriksson]] rink. With the loss, the team took home a bronze medal.

===Schmirler's fifth===
After [[Sandra Schmirler]] won the [[1997 Saskatchewan Scott Tournament of Hearts]], Ford joined the team as their fifth player.<ref>{{cite news|title=To The Hearts|date=February 19, 1997|page=9|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160499723/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team represented the province at the national [[1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts]]. As the fifth player, Ford subbed in for the team's final round robin game after third [[Jan Betker]] suffered a pulled left quadriceps.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sask. secures first at Hearts|date=February 28, 1997|page=17|newspaper=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/160500028/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team went on to win the Tournament, earning the right to represent Canada at the [[1997 World Women's Curling Championship]]. At the Worlds, Ford replaced an ailing Betker, who had a pulled abductor muscle in their games against the United States<ref>{{cite news|title=Injury hobbles Betker|date=April 14, 1997|page=20|newspaper=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/160500354/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{cite news|title=Schmirler, Martin unbeaten|date=April 15, 1997|page=11|newspaper=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/160500585/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> and Scotland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Schmirler still perfect, Danes drop Martin|date=April 16, 1997|page=13|newspaper=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/160500762/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team went on to win the gold medal.

Ford was retained as the Schmirler team's alternate at the [[1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials]], which Schmirler won, earning the rink the right to represent Canada at the [[1998 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic bound|date=December 1, 1997|page=1|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/85320847/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> At the Olympics, Ford saw action in their match against Germany, replacing an ailing Betker.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rock on|date=February 13, 1998|page=1|newspaper=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/160501715/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team won the gold medal, defeating Denmark in the Olympic final. The team returned home to Regina from the Olympics on February 18, and immediately had to prepare for the [[1998 Scott Tournament of Hearts]] which began three days later, also in Regina. There, the rink would represent Team Canada as defending champions,<ref>{{cite news|title=Will to win still strong|date=February 20, 1998|page=23|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160502274/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> and finished in third.

A year after the Olympics, Ford defeated Schmirler in the Regina playdowns to qualify for the [[1999 Saskatchewan Scott Tournament of Hearts]], her first provincial championship appearance as a skip.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ford upsets Schmirler|date=January 11, 1999|page=10|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160503098/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> At provincials, Ford led her team to a 5–2 record, and lost in the semifinals to [[Cindy Street]].

In 1999, Ford was inducted into [[Canadian Curling Hall of Fame]] together with all of the Sandra Schmirler team.<ref>[https://www.curling.ca/hof/people/ford-atina/ Ford, Atina — CCA Hall of Fame | ACC Temple de la Renommée Virtuelle]</ref>

===Move to Alberta===
Ford moved to [[Sherwood Park, Alberta]] in 2001.<ref name="Gray"/> She immediately joined the [[Heather Nedohin]] rink as her third,<ref>{{cite news|title=Nedohin team rockin' toward Cayman Islands|date=October 6, 2001|page=42|newspaper=Calgary Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/160503636/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> and won the 2002 [[Autumn Gold Curling Classic]] in their second season together.<ref>{{cite news|title=Curler boasts golden touch|date=October 15, 2002|page=35|newspaper=Calgary Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/160504695/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> Ford took over skipping duties of the team, while Nedohin threw last rocks at the 2003 [[Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts|Alberta Scott Tournament of Hearts]], emulating Nedohin's husband [[David Nedohin|David]]'s team, which was skipped by [[Randy Ferbey]]. This was done because Ford displaced eight ribs after falling on her shoulder at the [[2003 Canada Cup of Curling]], held earlier that month, meaning her ability to sweep would be hindered.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nedohin lets Johnson (sic) call the shots|date=January 23, 2003|page=40|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160505254/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> At the Alberta Hearts, the team lost in the semifinal to [[Shannon Kleibrink]].<ref>{{cite news|title=A familiar look on the women's side in north|date=January 5, 2004|page=41|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160505661/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team retained the same lineup with Ford skipping and throwing third for the next season. Ford led the team to another semifinal loss at the 2004 Alberta Hearts, losing to [[Deb Santos]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Santos rink returns to final|date=February 1, 2004|page=33|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160506010/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team broke up in 2005, jokingly due to an 'epidemic of babies on [the] team'.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greening packs her shoes to take on 2007 worlds gig|date=December 9, 2005|page=41|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160512427/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> Ford returned to the Alberta Hearts in 2007 with two members of the previous Nedohin team ([[Lawnie MacDonald]] and [[Rona Pasika]]), plus Renee Keane, all of whom were new mothers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Johnston guides Moms over Kleibrink|date=January 25, 2007|page=2|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160513086/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> The team finished the event with a 2–5 record, in 7th place.<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts|date=January 29, 2007|page=8|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/160513283/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref>

===Seniors===
Ford made her return to nationals-level curling by skipping the Alberta rink at the [[2023 Canadian Senior Curling Championships]], where her team finished fourth.<ref name="Okotoks"/> Ford-Johnston returned to the seniors in [[2024 Canadian Senior Curling Championships|2024]], winning 5-4 against Ontario's [[Jo-Ann Rizzo]] in the gold medal game, and will represent Canada at the [[2025 World Senior Curling Championships]].

==Personal life==
Ford currently lives in [[Okotoks, Alberta]]<ref name="Okotoks">{{cite news|title=Okotoks skip proud of strong showing at Canadian seniors championships|date=December 18, 2023|newspaper=Western Wheel|url=https://www.westernwheel.ca/local-sports/okotoks-skip-proud-of-strong-showing-at-canadian-seniors-championships-7995476|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref> She is married to fellow curler [[Wade Johnston (curler)|Wade Johnston]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jungle Jim swinging through Roar Inn|date=December 8, 2001|page=29|newspaper=Regina Leader-Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/160503916/|accessdate=December 7, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Curling Women}}
{{Footer World Curling Champions (women)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Atina}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian women curlers]]
[[Category:Olympic curlers for Canada]]
[[Category:Curlers at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:World curling champions]]
[[Category:Curlers from Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Canadian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in curling]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Canada Cup (curling) participants]]
[[Category:Curlers from Alberta]]
[[Category:People from Okotoks]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Sherwood Park]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen]]