Ann Swisshelm

Ann Swisshelm (born March 9, 1968 in Middleton, Ohio) is a curler from Chicago, Illinois. She has also been known as Ann Swisshelm Silver.^[1]

Ann Swisshelm was born in Middletown, Ohio and currently resides in Downtown Chicago with her husband Sean Silver, her cat, Einstein and her ficus plant, Rodney.^[2] She began curling at age ten and was in the curling program and the Exmoor Country Club.

She made her United States Nationals debut in 1995 where her team placed fifth. Her team won the National title in 1998, 2001, and 2003. To date she has competed in 15 US Nationals and will compete in her sixteen championship in March 2010.

At her first World Championships in 1998 Ann Swisshelm finished in a three way tie for eighth with her team. In 2001 her team improved to a fifth place finish and a 5 - 4 record. Her best performance at the World Championships came with her third appearance in 2003. Team USA finished third in the Round Robin competition. In the Semifinals they defeated Team Sweden (skipped by future Olympic Gold Medalist Anette Norberg and advanced to take on Colleen Jones's Canadian team in the final. Playing in Winnipeg, Manitoba they defeated the Canadians and Swisshelm earned her first World Championship medal.

Olympics

In 2002 Ann Swisshelm competed at her first Olympic Games. Team United States placed third after the Round Robin competition with a 6 - 3 record. In the semifinals the United States lost to the eventual Silver medalists from Switzerland. In the Bronze Medal match they took on Kelley Law's team from Canada. The match ended with a 9 - 5 score with the Canadians taking the Bronze medal. Ann Swisshelm has returned to the United States Olympic Trials twice since the 2002 Olympics finishing second both times.

Awards: 2001 United States Olympic Committee Female Curler of the Year 2003 United States Olympic Committee Curling Team of the Year 2001 Frances Brodie Award Winner - World Curling Federation Sportsmanship Award 2008 Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award - U.S. Nationals

Teammates

2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games

• Kari Erickson, Skip
• Debbie McCormick, Third
• Stacey Liapis, Second
• Joni Cotten, Alternate

2003 Winnipeg World Championships

• Debbie McCormick, Skip
• Allison Pottinger, Third
• Tracy Sachtjen, Lead
• Joni Cotten, Alternate

2010 Swift Current World Championships

• Erika Brown, Skip
• Nina Spatola, Third
• Laura Hallisey, Lead
• Jessica Schultz, Alternate

References