MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Two Wisconsin athletes represented Team USA on the world’s biggest stage at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games — and came just short of the podium.
Steve Emt of DeForest and Laura Dwyer of Oconomowoc competed in wheelchair curling, falling short in the bronze medal match Wednesday to finish fourth in the world.
Despite missing the podium, Emt said the team is proud of how they performed throughout the week.
“Tough bronze medal match yesterday but obviously we’re not happy with the outcome but we’re happy with our performance. We’re happy with our play throughout the week,” Emt said.
He acknowledged how close they came to making it to the podium.
Steve Emt, right, and Laura Dwyer, of the United States, and Yoji Nakajima, left, and Aki Ogawa, of Japan, greet each other after their wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)(Evgeniy Maloletka | AP)
“Unfortunately, we came a little bit up short. It hurts right now, it still hurts. But this is something that’s going to drive us and make us better going forward in life,” Emt said.
For Dwyer, Milan Cortina marked her first Paralympic Games. For Emt, it was his third appearance.
Both athletes pointed to the crowd atmosphere as the most memorable part of the Games — a stark contrast to the typically quiet sport of curling.
“The atmosphere, the environment that we played in – 500-600,000 people, whatever it was, it was loud, they’re chanting, the flags of all the countries they’re waving. It was absolutely an incredible experience,” Emt said.
Dwyer agreed, saying the energy pushed them to perform at their best — even when the crowd was cheering for the opposing team.
“Even when we were playing against Italy and the crowd was cheering so loudly for Italy, we were asked afterwards like how was it having everyone cheer. I said I just pretended they were cheering for me,” Dwyer laughed. “It was like me being at my kids football game or basketball game. It was so great.”
She added that her husband and child were in the stands cheering her on — a moment she’ll never forget.
Steve Emt, foreground, and Laura Dwyer, center, of the United States, compete against Yoji Nakajima and Aki Ogawa, of Japan, in a wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)(Evgeniy Maloletka | AP)
“It’s been an amazing experience and we’re honored and blessed to represent Team USA – the greatest country in the world on the greatest stage,” Emt said.
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