MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Two Wisconsin athletes represented Team USA on the world\u2019s biggest stage at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games \u2014 and came just short of the podium.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Despite missing the podium, Emt said the team is proud of how they performed throughout the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough bronze medal match yesterday but obviously we\u2019re not happy with the outcome but we\u2019re happy with our performance. We\u2019re happy with our play throughout the week,\u201d Emt said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged how close they came to making it to the podium.<\/p>\n
![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7NG6QFEHUVCT3HGHXPV3C7GMYQ.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we came a little bit up short. It hurts right now, it still hurts. But this is something that\u2019s going to drive us and make us better going forward in life,\u201d Emt said.<\/p>\n
For Dwyer, Milan Cortina marked her first Paralympic Games. For Emt, it was his third appearance. <\/p>\n
Both athletes pointed to the crowd atmosphere as the most memorable part of the Games \u2014 a stark contrast to the typically quiet sport of curling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere, the environment that we played in \u2013 500-600,000 people, whatever it was, it was loud, they\u2019re chanting, the flags of all the countries they\u2019re waving. It was absolutely an incredible experience,\u201d Emt said.<\/p>\n
Dwyer agreed, saying the energy pushed them to perform at their best \u2014 even when the crowd was cheering for the opposing team.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven 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,\u201d Dwyer laughed. \u201cIt was like me being at my kids football game or basketball game. It was so great.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that her husband and child were in the stands cheering her on \u2014 a moment she\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n
![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/U3XJHFGJ45A53APX24QJ47G6AM.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing experience and we\u2019re honored and blessed to represent Team USA \u2013 the greatest country in the world on the greatest stage,\u201d Emt said.<\/p>\n