Two athletes from Wisconsin, Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer, are gearing up to represent their state in curling at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Milan. Practicing at the Madison Curling Club, they highlight the sport's inclusive nature amid their personal journeys to the international stage. This marks Dwyer's first Paralympics and Emt's third appearance.
In McFarland, Wisconsin, curlers Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer are intensifying their training for the Paralympic Winter Games in Milan, set to begin on March 6, 2026. The duo practices with a seven-member team at the Madison Curling Club, embracing a sport that Emt discovered unexpectedly in 2014. "I had no idea what the sport was," Emt recalled of his recruitment.
Dwyer's entry was equally serendipitous. "The coach at the time emailed me and said, ‘how would you like to become a Paralympian?’" she shared. "I said, ‘sign me up!’" For Dwyer, a mother of two teenage sons, this opportunity represents a milestone. "I am so thankful that they have seen me find this dream and have this journey and work towards a goal," she said. "If I’m going to Paralympics, that’s the next step."
Emt, preparing for his third Paralympics, emphasized the event's intensity. "You have to be ready for the pressure and be ready for the cameras in your face and the lights and the crowds," he noted. "There’s going be 10,000 people while you’re curling."
Both athletes turned to curling after injuries ended their participation in other sports. They praise the sport's accessibility: "You don’t have to walk to be a good curler," they explained. "Black, white, male, female, 400 pounds, 100 pounds, ability, disability -- it doesn’t matter. The curling sport is so embracing of everybody."
The athletes will depart for Milan on February 24, ready to compete on a global stage that celebrates resilience and inclusivity.
