chasing gold · 2009. 10. 6. · past four straight u.s. national titles – a usa curling record...

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Inside:

Olympic Preview........P. 4Athlete Profiles..Pgs. 6-30Paralympic Preview..P. 24

The Road to Vancouver

ChasingGold

Debbie McCormick, skip, Team USA, photographed by Getty Images

Pre-Vancouver Competition Schedule....................................................................................................3Olympic Competition Schedule.............................................................................................................42010 Olympic Winter Games................................................................................................................5Team USA – Women................................................................................................................ ........6-12Team USA – Men................................................................................................................... ........13-19Team Leader.......................................................................................................................... ..............20A Look Back at Torino...................................................................................................... ....................21History of Olympic Winter Games........................................................................................... .............22

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Pre-Olympic competition & event scheduleTeam USA–Men

Camps:May 27-31, Green Bay, Wis.June 4-7, Green Bay, Wis.June 18-21, Green Bay, Wis.July 9-12, Green Bay, Wis.July 15-19, Park City, UtahJuly 30-Aug. 2, Green Bay, Wis.Aug. 6-9, Green Bay, Wis.Dec. 17-20, Green Bay or Duluth, Minn.

Other events:Sept. 9-11, U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit, Chicago (John Shuster only)

Competitions:• Aug. 22-28, Zurich, Switzerland, training & competition• Sept. 17-20, AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic, Brockville, Ontario• Sept. 22-27, Oslo Cup, Oslo Norway• Oct. 1-5, Swiss Cup, Basel, Switzerland• Oct. 19-25, Masters Grand Slam, Toronto, Ontario• Oct. 29-Nov. 1, Cactus Pheasant Classic, Brooks,Alberta • Nov. 24-29, Sun Life Financial, Brantford,Ontario• Dec. 3-6, Korbel Curling Classic, Madison, Wisconsin• Dec. 10-13, Eveleth Cashspiel, Eveleth, Minn.• Jan. 6-10, The National Grand Slam, Guelph, Ontario• Jan. 18-24, BDO Grand Slam, Winnipeg, Manitoba• Feb. 6, arrive in Vancouver for 2010 Olympic WinterGames• Feb. 16-28, Olympic competition

Visit the team website at www.teamusacurling2010.com

Team USA–WomenCamps:

May 27-31, Green Bay, Wis.June 4-7, Green Bay, Wis.June 18-21, Green Bay, Wis.July 9-12, Green Bay, Wis.July 17-19, Green Bay, Wis.July 30-Aug. 2, Green Bay, Wis.Aug. 6-9, Green Bay, Wis.Dec. 17-20, Green Bay or Madison, Wis.

Other events:Sept. 9-11, U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit, Chicago (Debbie McCormick only)

Competitions:• Aug. 22-28, Zurich, Switzerland, training & competition• Sept. 17-20, AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic, Brockville, Ontario• Sept. 24-27, Bank of America Schmirler Classic, Regina,Saskatchewan• Oct. 9-11, RE/MAX Masters, Basel, Switzerland• Oct. 16-18, Grasshopper Women’s Masters, Zurich,Switzerland• Nov. 6-8, OVCA Fall Classic, Kemptville, Ontario• Nov. 19-22, Sun Life Financial, Brantford, Ontario• Dec. 3-6, Korbel Curling Classic, Madison, Wis.• Jan. 5-12, Training in Lucern, Switzerland, andInternational Bernese Ladies Cup, Bern, Switzerland• Jan. 13-17, Glynhill Ladies International, Glasgow,Scotland• Feb. 6, arrive in Vancouver for 2010 Olympic WinterGames• Feb. 16-28, Olympic competition

Game schedule – 2010 Olympic Games

2010 Olympic Winter GamesDraw schedule, Feb. 12-28, Vancouver, B.C.

Men(specific Team USA draw schedule not available at press time)

All times local Pacific Time (PT)2/16: USA v. Germany, 9 a.m.; USA v. Norway, 2 p.m.2/17: USA v. Switzerland, 2 p.m.2/18: USA v. Denmark, 9 a.m.2/19: USA v. France, 2 p.m.2/20: USA v. Sweden, 9 a.m.2/21: USA v. Great Britain, 2 p.m.2/22: USA v. Canada, 9 a.m.; USA v. China, 7 p.m.2/23: No USA men’s draw2/24: Tiebreakers (if needed), 9 a.m., noon & 7 p.m.2/25: Semifinals at 2 p.m.2/27: Bronze-medal match, 9 a.m.; gold-medal match, 3 p.m.

2010 Olympic Winter GamesDraw schedule, Feb. 12-28, Vancouver, B.C.

Women(specific Team USA draw schedule not available at press time)

All times local Pacific Time (PT)2/16: USA v. Japan, 2 p.m.2/17: USA v. Germany, 9 a.m. 2/18: USA v. Denmark, 2 p.m.2/19: USA v. Russia, 9 a.m.2/20: USA v. Great Britain, 2 p.m.2/21: USA v. Canada, 9 a.m., USA v. Sweden, 7 p.m.2/22: No USA women’s game2/23: USA v. China, 9 a.m., USA v. Switzerland, 7 p.m.2/24: Tiebreakers (if needed), 9 a.m., noon & 7 p.m.2/25: Semifinals at 9 a.m.2/26: Bronze-medal match, 9 a.m.; gold-medal match, 3 p.m.

Qualifying for Vancouver

Rank123456789101112131415

AssociationCanadaScotland/Great BritainUSAGermanyNorwaySwitzerlandFranceDenmarkChinaSwedenAustraliaFinlandJapanCzech RepublicKorea

200714.03.510.012.03.59.06.53.5–8.03.56.5––1

200814.012.06.05.010.02.08.04.09.03.07.0––1–

200912.014.08.07.010.09.04.06.04.0––1.03.02.0–

Points40.029.524.024.023.520.019.513.513.011.010.57.53.03.01.0

MEN–Top 10 qualify to 2010 Olympic Winter GamesRank1234567891011121314

AssociationCanadaChinaDenmarkSwedenSwitzerlandUSAScotland/Great BritainGermanyRussiaJapanItalyKoreaCzech RepublicNorway

200714.06.012.07.57.59.010.04.04.04.01.5–1.5–

200814.012.08.07.010.06.03.04.05.09.02.0–1.0–

20099.014.010.012.08.04.05.07.06.0–1.03.0–2.0

Points37.032.030.026.525.519.018.015.015.013.04.53.02.52.0

WOMEN–Top 10 qualify to 2010 Olympic Winter Games

The Games of the XXI Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 12-28, 2010, with an estimated 2,500athletes from 85 countries. The first Olympic Winter Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France.Curling was featured in this event but would not be a medal sport again until 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

About the curling competition: Ten men’s and 10 women’s teams will compete in a week-long roundrobin to determine the four semifinalists, who will then play for the medals.

Defending champions: Sweden (women) and Canada (men)

About the curling venue: The Vancouver Olympic Center has a capacity of 6,000 spectators and islocated near Queen Elizabeth Park. Construction of the arena, which houses four sheets of curling ice,began in March 2007 and was completed in fall of 2008. The 2009 World Junior Championships wereplayed here as a test event for the Olympics. USA’s alternate, Chris Plys, played on that team, earningthe bronze medal.

TV coverage: NBC Universal Sports aired 12 hours of live coverage from the 2010 U.S. Olympic TeamTrials for Curling in February 2009 from the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colo., marking thefirst time curling was aired live in the U.S. outside of an Olympic Games. The coverage also was web-streamed via Universal Sports’ website. NBC’s coverage of curling during the Olympic Games has greatlyincreased over the past three Olympics.

Curling’s exposure on NBC’s networks during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games has helped further growthe sport across the United States from Southern California to Texas to Vermont. Much of the 80+ hoursof U.S. curling programming from the 2006 Games appeared on CNBC. This was up from the 50-plushours shown during the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. Weekday coverage of curling in the 5-8 p.m. ETtime slot delivered an average of 876,000 viewers, 579 percent higher than CNBC’s February 2005 aver-age in the same time slot.

Vancouver, British Columbia, is set to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Feb. 12-28, 2010. TheVancouver Olympic Centre/Vancouver Paralympic Centre will be the site for curling and is set to be com-pleted by Fall 2008. The venue will feature four ice sheets with space to fit about 6,000 spectators. Visitwww.vancouver2010.com/en to learn more about the 2010 Olympic Games.

Early reports from NBC indicate the network will air live coverage of the morning and afternoon gamesin Vancouver with the night draws being aired via tape-delay. Curling is the only sport that has receivedan increase in ratings from the 2002 to 2006 Olympic Games.

TEAM USA – WOMEN

Fast facts:• Team McCormick has won thepast four straight U.S. nationaltitles – a USA Curling record• McCormick, Pottinger andSachtjen won the first – and only– world gold medal for thewomen’s curling program back in2003• All five are former U.S. juniorchampions• Coach Henry is a former cham-pion as well. He won two U.S.men’s titles in the 80s.• Both Pottinger and Sachtjenhave U.S. mixed national titlesunder their belts as well• The only Olympian in thegroup, McCormick representedthe U.S. at the 1998 OlympicGames in Nagano, Japan, and2002 in Salt Lake City. • The only curling Olympic medal

won was in 2006 when PeteFenson’s team won bronze• The best finish for the women

was fourth in 2002 (McCormickwas vice skip on that team)• McCormick’s husband proposedto her during the NaganoOlympics• Pottinger, Nicholson andSachtjen all are moms• Pottinger’s husband, Doug, wonthe men’s national curling title in2004. He competed at the 2010Olympic Team Trials as well.• McCormick and Pottinger wereboth born in Canada. McCormickmoved as a young child whilePottinger lived there until shecame to the U.S. for college,where she played softball at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.• Joraanstad, the youngster inthe group, recently becameengaged. • Nicholson gave birth to her firstchild in 2008, a daughter, Stella.

Team USA (l-r): Debbie McCormick, Allison Pottinger, Nicole Joraanstad, Natalie Nicholson, TracySachtjen, and Coach Wally Henry.

Debbie McCormickPosition: SkipBirthdate: Jan. 8, 1974Hometown: Saskatoon, SaskatchewanCurrently resides: Rio, Wis. Occupation: Works for Home DepotFamily: Married to Pete McCormickHighlights:• 2003 world champion• Three-time Olympian (2010, 2002, 1998)• 7-time U.S. national champion (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006,2003, 2001, 1996; 4 most recently as skip)• 4-time U.S. junior champion; two silvers and one bronze atWorld Juniors• Has earned three medals at world championships (2003,gold; 2006, silver; 1996, silver)• 2003 USA Curling Team of the Year• 2003 and 2006 USA Curling Female Athlete of the Year

Fun stuff:Favorite band: Counting CrowsFavorites sports teams: Green Bay Packers and MilwaukeeBrewersPets: Two female Weimaraners (Ellie & Ava)Hobbies: Scrapbooking, kayaking, pheasant hunting with dog-gies and husband, Pete, bike ridingDreams of...being on the Price is RightFavorite TV shows: Game shows, What Not to Wear, TheDeadliest Catch, sports (especially Andy Roddick)

Favorite foods/drinks:Coffee, fruit smoothies, pero-gies, pizza, seafood, Mexicanfood, Japanese food, Chinesefood, steak, red wine

Probably one of the mostwell-known American curlers,Debbie is a fan favorite asshe embraces the relation-ships she has formed overthe years with people she’smet throughout her career. Aproven winner (McCormick,Pottinger and Sachtjen wonthe world title in 2003),Debbie is looking to finallyget on the Olympic medalpodium in Vancouver afterfinishing 4th in Salt Lake Cityin 2002 and 5th in Nagano,Japan, in 1998.

DEBBIE MCCORMICK, SKIP

ALLISON POTTINGER, VICE SKIPAllison Pottinger

Position: Vice skipBirthdate: July 5, 1973Hometown: Brampton, OntarioCurrently resides: Eden Prairie, Minn.

Occupation:Marketing researchanalyst for GeneralMillsFamily: Married toDoug Pottinger, 2004U.S. national men’scurling champion; twodaughters, Lauren &KelseyHighlights:• Making firstOlympic appearance• 2003 world champion; sil-ver medals in 2006, 1999,

1996• 9-time U.S. national champion• 1994 U.S. junior champion; silver medal at JuniorWorlds• 2008 USA Curling Female Athlete of the Year• 2003 & 1999 USA Curling Team of the Year

Fun stuff:Hobbies: Running, skiing, water-skiingFavorite TV shows: Grey’s Anatomy, Private PracticeFavorite vacation spot: Phuket, ThailandFavorite foods/drinks: Red wine, pizza, Diet Coke

Allison is the team’s strategist and longtime teammateof McCormick’s. Together they’ve won junior titles,women’s titles, and a world championship in the twodecades they’ve curled with each other on and off.

Nicole JoraanstadPosition: SecondBirthdate: Nov.10, 1980Hometown:SeattleCurrentlyresides: Madison,Wis.Occupation:Senior corporaterecruiter for TDSTelecomFamily: EngagedHighlights:• Making first Olympic appearance• 6-time U.S. champion; winning silver at2006 Worlds• Two-time U.S. Junior national champi-on; winning bronze at 2000 World Juniors• 2004 & 2000 USA Curling Team of theYear• 2007 USA Curling Female Athlete of theYear

Fun stuff:• Hobbies: Working out, cooking, travel-ing• Favorite TV shows: Brothers andSisters, Lost, Girls Next Door, The Office,Private Practice• Favorite vacation spot: Switzerland• Favorite food/drink: Steak, DietCoke

Nicole brings a youthful edge to theAmerican women’s team and is the ulti-mate team organizer/manager. This teamhas played together since 2006 andNicole organizes all flight arrangementsand paperwork for competitions. A fitnessfanatic, Nicole considers working out ahobby!

Page 9

NICOLE JORAANSTAD, SECOND

Natalie NicholsonPosition: LeadBirthdate: March 10, 1976Hometown: Bemidji, Minn.Occupation: Nurse practitionerFamily:Married toJohn; onedaughter,StellaHighlights:• Makingfirst Olympicappearance• 7-timeU.S. nationalchampion;earning sil-ver medal at2006 Worlds • Two-time U.S. junior champion• 2004, 1997 USA Curling Team of theYear• 2009 USA Curling Female Athlete ofthe Year

Natalie is the sparkplug of the team,adding an energy to the team while onthe ice. At the 2009 Women’s WorldChampionship, she was the top-rankedathlete at the lead position.

NATALIE NICHOLSON, LEAD

TRACY SACHTJEN, ALTERNATETracy Sachtjen

Position: AlternateBirthdate: Feb. 20, 1969Hometown: Lodi, Wis.Occupation: Events & sports coordinatorwith Lodi School District and YMCAFamily: Married to Karl; two children, SierraandDesmon

Highlights:• 2003 world champion • 5-time U.S. national champion• 3-time U.S. junior national champion• 1998 U.S. mixed champion• 1989 USA Curling Female Athlete of theYear• 2003 and 1999 USA Curling Team of theYear• Competing in her first Olympic Games

Fun stuff:Hobbies: Gardening, running, biking, kayak-ing, hiking, golfing, and any form of exerciseFavorite vacation spots: Florida, anywherewith her family and a beachFavorite food: MexicanFavorite drink: Dark beerVolunteer work: Volunteers with kids groupsin her community and cancer support groups

Tracy also is a proven winner with multiplenational and one world title on her resume. Alongtime friend and teammate to McCormick,Tracy can easily jump in and play at any posi-tion at a high level based on her dedication to

WALLY HENRY, WOMEN’S HEAD COACHWally Henry

Position: Women’s team headcoachBirthdate: May 5, 1947, inPortage La Prairie, ManitobaHometown: Beaver Dam, Wis.Occupation: RetiredFamily: Two children, DebbieMcCormick and Donnie Henry

Highlights:• Has coached Team McCormicksince 2003, earning gold medalwith team in 2003 • 2007 USA Curling Coach of the

Year• 2007 U.S. senior men’s champi-on• 2-time U.S. men’s champion(two bronze medals at Worlds)• Assistant coach at 2002Olympic Winter Games in SaltLake City

Fun stuff:Hobbies: Camping, gardening,traveling, fishingFavorite TV shows: HistoryChannel, Law & Order, CSIFavorite vacation spot: South

2007 World Senior bronze medalists, including WallyHenry (third from left)

TEAM USA – MEN

Team USA men (l-r) Chris Plys, John Benton, Jeff Isaacson, Jason Smith and John Shuster.

Fast facts:• Team Shuster won its firstnational title when it countedmost – the 2010 Olympic TeamTrials• Shuster is a four-time men’schampion (3 titles as a memberof Team Pete Fenson in 2003,2005 and 2006)• The only Olympian in the men’sgroup, Shuster was a member ofthe 2006 Olympic team that wonU.S. curling’s first Olympic medal– bronze as a member of TeamFenson• Shuster, Smith, Isaacson andPlys are all former U.S. juniorchampions• Shuster, Isaacson and Plys teamed up to win the gold medal

at the 2007 Winter WorldUniversity Games. This was thefirst and only medal ever won bythe U.S. curling program at thisevent.• Plys has won a U.S.-record 5U.S. junior titles (last four in arow) and brought home the firstworld junior men’s gold medalsince 1984 in 2008.• At age 21, Plys was theyoungest skip in the field at the2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. • The team jokingly refers toBenton as “grandpa” to reflectthe age gap (Benton is 40 whilethe rest of the team and eventhe head coach are in their 20s).

JOHN SHUSTER, SKIPJohn Shuster

Position: SkipBirthdate: Nov. 3, 1982Hometown: Chisholm, Minn.Currently resides: Duluth, Minn.Occupation: Bar manager at DuluthCurling Club; also works on the groundscrew at golf course in DuluthHighlights:• 2006 Olympic bronze medalist• Four-time U.S. men’s national champion• 2007 World University Games goldmedalist• 2004 U.S. junior champion• 2006 U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team of the Year• 2006 USA Curling Team of the Year• 2009 USA Curling Male Athlete of the Year

Fun stuff:Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, wakeboarding, baseball, golfPets: Two German short-haired pointersFavorite music:CountryOne beauty/groomingitem he can’t livewithout: A hatFavorite sports team:Minnesota TwinsFavorite foods: Smokedfish, pizza, Buffalo chick-en, steak, oven-friedpork chopsLucky charms: Family &long-sleeved Nike shirtfrom 2006 OlympicGames

Known for being loud onthe ice because of hispassion for the sport andcompetitive streak, Shuster is a big-game player whoenjoys the last shot for the win. A member of the firstteam to win an Olympic medal for U.S. curling, Shusterhas dreamed of skipping a team at the Olympic WinterGames since he was a teenager. He rarely curls without abaseball cap on.

JASON SMITH, VICE SKIPJason Smith

Position: Vice skipBirthdate: Sept. 18,1983Hometown: Chisholm,Minn.Currently resides:Cape Coral, Fla.Highlights:• 2009 U.S. men’snational champion• 2010 U.S. OlympicTeam Trials for Curlingchampion• 2005 U.S. Juniorchampion; finishedfourth at World Juniors• Bronze medalist, 2003 World Junior BChampionships• 2005 Junior Nationals All-Star Team

Fun stuff:Other sports: Basketball, bowling, softballHobbies: Playing cards, cribbage, pool, listening tomusic, going to the beach, hanging out with friendsFavorite TV shows: Bones, CSI, Life, HouseDreams of traveling to: AustraliaFavorite place in his backyard: The beachFavorite food: Sushi. “A few years ago, I wouldhave never even tried to eat it. Now, I absolutely

love it.” Jason can eatwhatever he wantswithout gaining weight,as apparent in his 150-pound frame. Not a bigfan of cooking, Jasonsays “Anything that canbe made in themicrowave is for me.”Favorite drink:Mountain Dew

Jason is highly competi-tive and is the team’ssparkplug on the ice.He excels at just aboutany sport he tries.

JEFF ISAACSON, SECONDJeff Isaacson

Position: SecondBirthdate: July 14, 1983Hometown: Virginia, Minn.Currentlyresides:Gilbert, Minn.Occupation:TeacherHighlights:• 2007 WorldUniversityGames goldmedalist• 2005 U.S.Junior cham-pion; finishedfourth atWorld Juniors• Competingin third U.S. men’s championship (finishedas runner-up in 2002)• 2005 Junior Nationals All-Star Team

Fun stuff:Favorite vacation spots: Fort Meyers,Fla.; Las Vegas; HawaiiHobbies: Playing cards, poker, cribbage,smear, four-wheeling, boating, swimmingFavorite foods: Fish, pizza, seafood

Jeff is a true student of the sport and stud-ies game films all the times. He has anextensive library of curling film, which is notalways easy to come by based on TV cover-age over the years. While quiet and mildmannered, Jeff’s knowledge of strategy andthe sport makes him the professor of theteam.

JOHN BENTON, LEADJohn Benton

Position: LeadBirthdate: June 23, 1969Hometown: Afton, Minn.Currently resides: St.Michael, Minn.Occupation: Operatingsystems analyst withFairview Health Servicesof MinnesotaHighlights:• 2009 U.S. men’snational champion• 2010 U.S. OlympicTeam Trials for Curlingchampion

Fun stuff:Favorite TV shows:CSI, Top Chef, HeroesFavorite vacation spot: Grand Rapids, Minn.Favorite foods: Italian food, ribsCareer plans/dreams: After leaving the ITindustry, he’d like to open a small restaurantHobbies: Bass fishing, golf, computers, cook-ing

Jokingly referred to as Grandpa by his team-mates, John, at age 40, provides a calmingpresence for his 20-some-year-old team-mates. He brings a quiet leadership based onhis years of experience on the ice.

CHRIS PLYS, ALTERNATEChris Plys

Position: AlternateBirthdate: Aug. 13, 1987Hometown: Duluth, Minn.Occupation: Works for family businessHighlights:• 2008 World junior champion• Five-time U.S.junior champion• 2008 USACurling Team ofthe Year• 2007 WorldUniversity Gamesgold medalist• Competing inhis first OlympicTrials and secondnational champi-onship

Fun stuff:Hobbies: Writing& listening tomusic, skate-boarding, hockeyFavorite foods: Pizza, chicken nuggets, Arizonaiced teasDream job: Musician

Chris is the up-and-coming star of USA Curlingbased on his success at the junior level. He haswon the past four (and five overall) U.S. juniortitles and won gold at the world juniors in 2008.At 21 years old, Chris was the youngest skip inthe field at the U.S. 2010 Olympic Team Trials forCurling, finishing with a 3-6 record. He was addedto Team Shuster as the alternate in time for the2009 Men’s World Championship. Chris comesfrom a large family and is the oldest child. He hasmany tattoos across his body and expresses him-self through music.

PHILL DROBNICK, MEN’S HEAD COACH

Phill DrobnickPosition: Men’s team headcoachBirthdate: Oct. 8, 1980, inVirginia, Minn.Hometown: Duluth, Minn.Occupation: Probation officerwith St. Louis CountyHighlights:• Coached the Chris Plys rink toworld junior gold medal in 2008and bronze in 2009. • As an athlete, won the 2000U.S. Junior Nationals and com-peted in four U.S. national cham-pionships• 2009 & 2008 USA Curling

Coach of the YearFun stuff:

• Phill hails from the Iron Rangeof Minnesota, known as HockeyTown USAHobbies: Golf, tennis• Each year Phill and a friendtravel the U.S. to attend Poisonconcerts• Favorite TV shows: Seinfeld(his all-time favorite), BigBrother, The Hills (big fan ofLaura Conrad!)Favorite vacation spot: LasVegasDreams of vacationingin...Mexico and HaitiFavorite foods: Ice cream,chocolate chip cookies, pizza

MARK SWANDBY, TEAM LEADERMark Swandby of Madison, Wis.,

has been selected as team leader forthe men’s and women’s U.S. curlingteams at the 2010 Olympic WinterGames, Feb. 12-28, 2010.

Swandby, 58, was selected fromseven candidates and has plenty ofcurling leadership experience on andoff the ice.

He has served on the United StatesCurling Association’s (USCA) Board ofDirectors since 1999 representing theWisconsin region, holding the roles ofvice president (2002-2004) and presi-dent (2004-2006) among many otherduties. He currently is one of threeUSCA representatives to the WorldCurling Federation. He also served asco-team leader at last year’s WorldJunior Curling Championships inSweden.

Swandby also is a two-time U.S.senior national champion (2005 and2008), earning medals at both WorldSenior Curling Championships heplayed in. When not busy volunteeringwith curling, Swandby works as thedepartmental administrator for theDepartment of Engineering Physics atthe University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As Olympic team leader, Swandbywill serve as the primary USCA con-tact and coordinator for the teams’information, assist in managing teamoperations and logistics, manageaccreditation of personnel, completepaperwork for the team, attend train-ing camps to support the team andassist them in other capacities leadingup to and during the Olympic WinterGames.

Swandby

A look back at the historic 2006 Olympics

Men’s round robin standings:Finland 7-2Canada 6-3USA 6-3Great Britain 6-3Norway 5-4Switzerland 5-4Italy 4-5Germany 3-6Sweden 3-6New Zealand 0-9

Semifinals:USA 101 010 020 x 5Canada 020 202 005 x 11

Finland 010 002 000 1 4Great Britain 000 010 101 0 3

Bronze-medal game:USA 103 002 010 1 8Great Britain 010 100 301 0 6

Gold-medal game:Finland 200 010 01x x 4Canada 021 106 00x x 10

USA round robin games:USA 11, Norway 5Finland 4, USA 3USA 10, New Zealand 4Italy 6, USA 5USA 10, Sweden 6USA 7, Switzerland 3USA 8, Germany 5USA 9, Great Britain 8Canada 6, USA 3

Women’s round robin standings:Sweden 7-2Switzerland 7-2Canada 6-3Norway 6-3Great Britain 5-4Russia 5-4Japan 4-5USA 2-7Denmark 2-7Italy 1-8

Semifinals:Norway 100 101 001 0 4Sweden 001 010 110 1 5

Switzerland 003 011 020 0 7Canada 010 100 201 0 5

Bronze-medal game:Norway 001 102 01x x 5Canada 410 040 20x x 11

Gold-medal game:Sweden 020 101 101 01 7Switzerland 002 000 020 20 6

USA round robin games:Norway 11, USA 6Canada 11, USA 5Japan 6, USA 5USA 8, Denmark 3Sweden 5, USA 4Russia 8, USA 7USA 11, Italy 3Switzerland 9, USA 8Great Britain 10, USA 4

The Pete Fenson rink based out of Bemidji, Minn., won curling’s first Olympic medal when the team defeatedGreat Britain to win the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. The women’s team, ledby Cassie Johnson, struggled in its opening games and finished eighth overall. Canada’s Brad Gushue rink wouldcapture the men’s elusive gold medal defeating Finland, while Anette Norberg of Sweden added to its collection ofmedals defeating Switzerland for the gold.

The first Olympic demonstration was in 1924, in Chamonix, France, where men’s teams from England, Franceand Sweden competed. England won the gold, and Sweden the silver. Games at this time were 18 ends long ver-sus 10 today. This event was most recently recognized as the first time curling was an Olympic medal sport.However, the sport would not be a medal sport again until the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Curling was next a demonstration sport in 1932, in Lake Placid, N.Y. Eight men’s teams competed–four fromCanada and four from the United States. The U.S. teams came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan andNew York. Canada won the round robin competition, taking 12 games to the USA’s four. Games were 16 endslong.

After a long absence, curling returned to the Olympics as an official demonstration in 1988, in Calgary, Canada.For the first time, a women’s competition was included. Canada won the women’s event, followed by Sweden andNorway. On the men’s side, Norway took the gold, followed by Switzerland and Canada. (Bronze medals wereawarded to the team that lost in the playoffs to the eventual champion.) The U.S. men’s and women’s teams bothfinished fourth.

Curling was again part of the Olympic demonstration sport program in 1992, in Albertville, France. This time,Germany won the women’s gold, followed by Norway and Canada. A bronze medal game was held, with Canadadefeating Denmark. Switzerland took the men’s championship, with Norway earningthe silver medal and the USA defeating Canada for the bronze medal. The USA’s team included Bud Somerville,Mike Strum, Bill Strum and Tim Somerville, all from Superior, Wis. (The U.S. women failed to earn a berth in theOlympic competition in 1992.)

In Salt Lake City in 2002, curling was a medal sport on the Olympic program for the third time. The U.S. men,led by Tim Somerville, finished seventh, while the women’s team, skipped by Kari Erickson, missed a bronze medalby just a few rocks.

Curling was officially a demonstration sport three times, but there were also “domestic exhibitions” (host coun-try participants only) in 1948 (St. Moritz, Switzerland) and 1964 (Innsbruck, Austria).

Year Gold Skip Silver Bronze USA2006 CAN Brad Gushue FIN USA 32002 NOR Pal Trulsen CAN SUI 71998 SUI Patrick Hurliman CAN NOR 4*1992 SUI Urs Dick NOR USA 3*1988 NOR Eigel Ramsfjell SUI CAN 4*1932 CAN William Burns USA N/A 21924 ENG Col. Robertson-Aikman SWE FRA ***denotes demonstration sport** did not qualify for competition

Year Gold Skip Silver Bronze USA2006 SWE Anette Norberg SUI CAN 82002 GBR Rhona Martin SUI CAN 41998 CAN Sandra Schmirler DEN SWE 5*1992 GER Andrea Schopp NOR CAN ***1988 CAN Linda Moore SWE NOR 4*denotes demonstration sport** did not qualify for competition

Men Women

chasing gold · 2009. 10. 6. · past four straight u.s. national titles – a usa curling record...

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