Sandra Schmirler

"Sandra Peterson" redirects here. For the Minnesota politician, see Sandra Peterson (politician). For the American businesswoman, see Sandi Peterson.

Sandra Schmirler
Curler
Schmirler at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Other namesSandra Peterson
Born(1963-06-11)June 11, 1963[1]
Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedMarch 2, 2000(2000-03-02) (aged 36)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Curling career
Hearts appearances7 (1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)
World Championship
appearances		3 (1993, 1994, 1997)
Olympic
appearances		1 (1998)
Medal record
Women's curling
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1998 Nagano Team
World Curling Championships
Gold medal – first place 1993 Geneva Team
Gold medal – first place 1994 Oberstdorf Team
Gold medal – first place 1997 Berne Team
Representing  Saskatchewan
Scott Tournament of Hearts
Gold medal – first place 1993 Brandon Team
Gold medal – first place 1994 Kitchener-Waterloo Team
Gold medal – first place 1997 Vancouver Team
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Calgary Team
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Regina Team
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
Gold medal – first place 1997 Brandon Team

Sandra Marie Schmirler SOM (June 11, 1963 – March 2, 2000) was a Canadian curler who captured three Canadian Curling Championships (Scott Tournament of Hearts) and three World Curling Championships.[2] Schmirler also skipped (captained) her Canadian team to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first year women's curling was a medal sport.[3][4] At tournaments where she was not competing, Schmirler sometimes worked as a commentator for CBC Sports, which popularized her nickname "Schmirler the Curler"[5] and claimed she was the only person who had a name that rhymed with the sport she played. She died in 2000 at 36 of cancer, leaving a legacy that extended outside of curling. Schmirler was honoured posthumously with an induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and was awarded the World Curling Freytag Award, which later led to her induction into the World Curling Federation Hall of Fame.

In 2019, Schmirler was named the second greatest Canadian female curler in history (after Jennifer Jones) in a TSN poll of broadcasters, reporters and top curlers.[6] Schmirler's Olympic team, which also included Jan Betker, Joan McCusker and Marcia Gudereit, was named the greatest female Canadian curling team of all time as part of the same poll.[7]

  1. ^ The New York Times Biographical Service. New York Times & Arno Press. 2000. p. 508.
  2. ^ "100 Alumni of Influence – Sandra Schmirler". University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "Sandra Schmirler (Canadian athlete)". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  4. ^ Buckland, Jason (August 31, 2011). "Canadian athletes taken too soon – Sandra Schmirler". FOX Sports on MSN Canada. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  5. ^ McElroy, Kathleen (March 4, 2000). "Sandra Schmirler, 36, Dies; Olympic Curling Champion". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  6. ^ "Top 10 Greatest Women Curlers".
  7. ^ "Canada's Greatest Curlers: Schmirler's foursome named greatest rink of all-time – TSN.ca". February 22, 2019.