At the women’s world curling championship in Calgary, Canada secured a silver medal following a notable 7-5 defeat against Switzerland. The Canadian team, led by skip Kerri Einarson, faced off against Xenia Schwaller and her talented Swiss squad in the final match. This event marked a challenging outing for the Canadians, whose mistakes proved costly.
Canada Falls Short in Final
The Canadian team consisted of Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, and Karlee Burgess. They struggled to maintain a strong offensive presence throughout the game, managing to score two points in a single end only once, during the fourth end. Several key errors allowed Switzerland to capitalize and put additional points on the board.
Crucial moments arose in the fifth end when the game was tied at 2-2. Einarson executed a well-placed hit-and-roll, but a subsequent light draw allowed Schwaller to score two points. Einarson reflected on the final throws, saying, “Unfortunately, I think just a couple of my shots I came up just a hair too light and left them an opportunity for a deuce.” Despite the loss, she acknowledged that this silver medal was her best achievement at the world championship, having previously earned bronze twice.
Switzerland’s Rising Star
Xenia Schwaller is a remarkable 22 years old, leading her team to victory just two years after winning the world junior curling championship. Together with teammates Selina Gafner, Fabienne Rieder, and Selina Rychiger, whose average age is only 22.5, Schwaller has shown herself to be a promising young talent. She made history as the fifth rookie skip to guide her team to a world championship title.
- Previous rookie skips:
- Elisabet Gustafson (Sweden, 1992)
- Sandra Schmirler (Canada, 1993)
- Kelly Law (Canada, 2000)
- Alina Paetz (Switzerland, 2015)
In her post-game interview, Schwaller expressed surprise at her team’s performance, crediting hard work and strong coaching support. “I don’t know how we did it,” she admitted, highlighting the efforts of her coaching staff, including her father and coach John Epping.
Ongoing Rivalry: Canada vs. Switzerland
The competition between Canada and Switzerland continues to thrive, with these two countries facing each other in three consecutive gold medal matches. Since 2014, no other nation has claimed gold at this event. Canada has four titles, while Switzerland has increased its tally to eight, showcasing the intense rivalry and depth of talent in both countries.
Sweden Claims Bronze
In another noteworthy matchup, Sweden secured the bronze medal by defeating Japan, with a final score of 8-5. Skip Isabella Wrana led her team, which included Almida De Val, Maria Larsson, and Linda Stenlund, to Sweden’s 26th medal at the women’s world curling championship.
The game against Japan was fiercely contested, remaining tied at 3-3 until the eighth end. Sweden gained the upper hand decisively, scoring five points and sealing the victory before Japan could respond significantly in the ninth end.
The outcomes at the women’s world curling championship reflect the dramatic developments in curling, showcasing the emerging talent that both Canada and Switzerland harbor.
