Taylor Anderson-Heide, lead for Team USA's women's curling squad, has overcome personal and team challenges to reach the 2026 Winter Olympics. Drawing on resilience built through wilderness training and family support, she brings positivity and elite sweeping skills to the ice. Her journey highlights the grind of curling in the United States and the power of support systems.
Taylor Anderson-Heide's path to the 2026 Winter Olympics has been marked by resilience and growth. Two years ago, she participated in Project Unknown, a United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee program designed to build teamwork and mental toughness. Dropped into the wilderness with guides including a Navy SEAL and a Green Beret, her group hiked miles, jumped off cliffs, and kayaked across waters over six days. The experience, shared with athletes like Winter Vinecki and Nick Baumgartner, proved transformative. "Mentally pushing myself and physically pushing myself made me grow as an athlete," Anderson-Heide said. All participants from that group qualified for the Olympics.
Early inspiration came at the 2012 Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, where she competed alongside her twin sister Sarah Anderson, Korey Dropkin, and Tom Howell. There, skier Lindsey Vonn emphasized perseverance through failure. Anderson-Heide recalled Vonn's message on resilience: “Having her failures in sport, and sticking to it, and working hard... She talked about resilience and coming back.” This resonated in curling's demanding landscape. “Curling is a grind. You do it because you love it, especially in the States,” she noted, citing team switches and two lost Olympic Trials.
Family has been her anchor. Her father Wayne coached her and Sarah in multiple sports, instilling a love for curling, while her mother handled logistics and older sisters paved the way. Husband Ryan provides emotional support. The twins played together until summer 2024, when USA Curling split Team Anderson: Sarah joined Team Strouse as vice, Taylor became lead for Team Peterson. “It was very hard, mentally, at first because I love her,” Taylor admitted. “This was the dream we wanted to chase together.” Despite the split, they practice together, with Sarah now in mixed doubles. “It’s the support system that gets you through it,” Anderson-Heide said. “That’s why I’m still doing this.”
Anderson-Heide's drive extends to learning from mentors. She absorbed techniques from U.S. curlers, including the now-banned slow-carve used effectively at the Olympic Qualifying Event. Joining the ice crew at Chaska Curling Center, she learned ice nuances from technician Scott Belvich, boosting her sweeping—now among the best in the country. Sport science coordinator Mike Gulenchyn aided her strength training, complemented by sessions with psychiatrist Dr. Carly Anderson.
Teammates praise her contributions. Skip Tab Peterson said, “Her sweeping is out of this world. She’s really focused on gaining strength, especially in her upper body.” Front-ender Tara Peterson added, “She’s a very positive person... brings light to everything.” The Project Unknown organizer described her as “Quiet, smart, willing, brave, and strong,” noting her distinct impression amid big personalities.
Now, Anderson-Heide approaches the Olympics with the positivity once tempered by nerves about forging her own path.
