Becker's 20-month-old son, Axel, spent four days in Dunedin Hospital this week with a collapsed lung and her 8-week-old baby daughter Kaylah also developed bronchitis halfway through the six-day curling tournament.
Becker (33) travelled from her Melbourne home to team up with elder brother Sean (37) in the mixed doubles competition and the duo won a silver medal yesterday, losing to Australians Steve Johns and Eve Belisle 7-6.
''It's been pretty hectic what with having sick babies and breast-feeding Kaylah,'' Bridget said. Axel was well on the mend and she was lucky to be back in home territory. The Winter Games curling venue, the Maniototo Curling International rink in Naseby, is not far from the family farm at Patearoa.
Three New Zealand teams made the medal games of the two curling tournaments held as part of the Winter Games, and two gained silver medals - the best result so far for a national team at the games.
The New Zealand men's side of Peter de Boer, Scott Becker, Kenny Thompson and Phil Dowling also gained silver, losing to Japan 10-3 in the final. Sean Becker was also a part of the men's four during the tournament but traded places with Phil Dowling for the final as it was held the same time as the mixed doubles final.
Sean said he and Bridget were ''outplayed'' by the Australians in the final and it had been a busy week for him.
''It's been a bit tough on the body playing two tournaments at the same time and playing 19 matches in total.''
Bridget had not curled since November ''but we know how each other play and we're a calming influence on each other'', he said. In the next four months, he will have 10 weeks off his farm work, travelling to China, Canada, Scotland and then Germany for tournaments.
''It's straight back to work tomorrow though, '' he said after the final. New Zealand fours skip Peter de Boer was ''somewhat disappointed'' by the final result.
''We've had a few scrappy games this week but overall I'm happy . We kind of know the level we need to play at now.''
New Zealand Curling Association president Bruce Kissel, of Alexandra, was delighted to have three national sides in the meda; games. Mixed doubles duo Natalie Campbell and Hans Frauenlob contested the bronze medal but lost to Wand Peng and Liu Sijia, of China.
''We've seen some good action throughout this week and the men's side that won, Japan, is a very slick side, but I'm delighted with New Zealand's performance throughout,'' he said.
''The tournament was great for the area and made people realise that our national teams were world standard. ''
