As members of the first U.S. wheelchair mixed doubles curling team, Wisconsin athletes Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer are gearing up for the 2026 Paralympics. Emt, heading to his third Games, shares how a 1995 car crash led him to the sport, his rise to becoming one of America's most decorated wheelchair curlers, and his call for equal resources.
Steve Emt's Paralympic journey with partner Laura Dwyer began after personal tragedies left both paralyzed—Emt from a drunk driving crash at age 25 in 1995, and Dwyer from a 2012 tree branch accident. The duo, who made history by qualifying as Team USA's inaugural mixed doubles team after winning trials in South Dakota, train together at the Madison Curling Club.
Emt discovered wheelchair curling in the summer of 2014 during a chance encounter in Cape Cod. Coach Tony Colacchio spotted his athletic build and invited him to try the sport. "I train with the Paralympic curling team here... I saw you pushing up the hill... with your build, I can make you into an Olympian in a year," Colacchio said. Emt fell in love after his first throws and even competed the next day for Team Canada against the prior year's gold medalists, Team Russia.
Now 56, Emt has amassed 12 national championships and 12 world championship appearances, tying him as one of the most decorated U.S. wheelchair curlers. This is his third Paralympics, after South Korea and China. Team USA recently defeated Latvia in an opening game, with the Games set to begin on Friday.
Emt conveys the honor of competition: "Every year I get my uniforms... it's got my last name, Emt, it's got the American flag, it's got USA, and it brings me to tears every time." He pushes for parity: "I just want the opportunity... same standard... same resources."
Reflecting on growth, Emt says, "My life is better since then... before my crash, I didn't take life seriously." He aims to compete through the 2034 Games in Utah.
