MILWAUKEE — On Sunday, May 9, the U.S. women’s curling team rallied to earn the bronze medal at the 2021 World Curling Championship.

It’s the first time the women’s team has earned a medal at the tournament since 2006. The team defeated Sweden 9-5 to earn the bronze, while Switzerland and Russia earned gold and silver, respectively.

In addition to the medal, the win also qualifies the United States for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. 

Becca Hamilton, a curler on the U.S. team, and also a Wisconsin native, talked about the past year and all the events that led up to medaling at the 2021 World Championship. She detailed the cancelation of the 2020 tournament, and explained the COVID-19 protocols that the team and other curlers had to adhere to in order to practice, train, and get back to competing.

Hamilton is looking to return to the Winter Olympics, where she competed in 2018 in both the women’s and mixed doubles events, alongside her brother Matt, who went on to earn gold with the U.S. men’s team.

Hamilton and her teammates Tabitha Peterson, Nina Roth, Tara Peterson, and Aileen Geving will now continue to prepare for the Olympic trials, which will take place this autumn, where they hope to earn the spot to represent the United States in 2022.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The photo at the top of this story is provided courtesy of Team USA/WCF/Steve Seixeiro