Building on initial athlete previews, more wheelchair curling contenders—including expanded details on Canada's mixed team and U.S. mixed doubles stars—are preparing for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, opening March 6 at venues in northern Italy.
Wheelchair curling competitions, including debuting mixed doubles, run March 7-15 at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium during the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Canada's mixed team, ranked second worldwide and skipped by two-time Paralympic medallist Mark Ideson (gold 2014, bronze 2018/2022), features lead Collinda Joseph (60, Stittsville, Ontario), who steps up from 2022 Beijing alternate role (bronze win). The squad includes second Ina Forrest (63), third Jon Thurston (42), and alternate Gil Dash (57, Saskatchewan)—a recent world medallist from a 2006 ski accident—with an average age of 53.5. Joseph, paralyzed in a 1983 train derailment, joined national team in 2019 after silver (2020), fifth (2021), and bronze (2025) Worlds. She recalls the spectator-less Beijing Games and looks forward to crowds.
Dash debuted internationally in 2023 (silver), adding 2024 silver and 2025 bronze.
Shifting focus to the U.S., Steve Emt (three-time Paralympian, 10-time national champion) pairs with Laura Dwyer, 2025 U.S. mixed doubles champs, at Cape Cod's historic pier where he discovered the sport post-1995 car crash paralysis. "Having a competitive outlet is everything. It saved my life," Emt said.
Complementing earlier coverage of Great Britain and initial Canadian spotlights, these athletes highlight global resilience ahead of 81 total matches.
