about WHEELCHAIR CURLING

Known as "the roaring game" because of the sound the stone produces while traveling over the ice, wheelchair curling is a tricky and difficult winter sport. With sweeping not allowed throws must be very precise to score points against an opponent.

The sport has two disciplines - mixed team events and mixed doubles.

Mixed team medal events have four players and must include both men and women athletes. The aim of the game is to deliver the stone as close as possible to the centre of the target, called the house. Teams are composed of a lead, second, vice-skip, skip, and sometimes an alternate. Lead, second, third and fourth and alternate - skips usually play fourth, but it’s not essential. During each round every player throws two stones for a total of eight stones per team. A team can score multiple points if there are two or more stones close to the centre. The stone can be thrown using the hand or an extender.

Players can choose whether to throw the stone alone or with a teammate who holds the wheelchair steady. To throw the stone, athletes can use an extender to add speed and direction. Curling stones are made of granite and weigh up to 19.96 kg.

Stones must be delivered from a stationary wheelchair. An athletes’ feet must not touch the ice and the wheels of the chair must be in contact with the ice. The stone can be delivered by either a conventional arm/hand release or by using a delivery stick (a stick with a bracket that fits over the handle on the stone).

Wheelchair curling is governed by World Curling.

Wheelchair curling History

Wheelchair curling was first included in the Paralympic Winter Games at Torino 2006 and the mixed team’s competition has been ever present since.

Canada is the only nation to have medalled at each Paralympic Winter Games and were gold medal winners at Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. They won bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

China has won gold at the last two Games editions; in 2018 they defeated Norway for gold and on home ice they defeated Sweden to retain their Paralympic title. To date seven nations have won a medal at the Paralympic Winter Games in the sport. Canada’s Sonja Gaudet is the sport’s most decorated athlete with three gold medals.

In addition to the mixed team competition, Milano Cortina 2026 will feature mixed Doubles for the first time.

DID YOU KNOW?

Japanese wheelchair curler Takashi Hidai made his Paralympic debut at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games at the age of 75, the oldest athlete at the tournament.