(CCA) PERTH, Scotland – The World Curling Federation (WCF) announces that Sandra Schmirler, the legendary Canadian women’s skip who died of cancer in the year 2000, is the posthumous winner of the 2009 World Curling Freytag Award.
The award will be presented to Schmirler’s widower, Shannon England, and their children, Sara and Jenna, during the opening weekend of April’s 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Moncton, the official 50th anniversary celebration of the world men’s curling championship.
The award is a tribute to the late Elmer Freytag, an American founder of the International Curling Federation (now WCF). It honours curlers for world championship-level playing ability, sportsmanship, character and the achievement of extraordinary distinction; and/or builders, individuals who are honoured for distinguished service and major contributions to the development and advancement of international curling.
“Sara, Jenna and myself will be honoured to represent Sandra in receiving this award at the Ford World Men’s Championship,” said England.
“Time marches on but Sandra’s zest for life continues to live on within us, each and every day.”
Schmirler led her Saskatchewan teammates (Jan Betker, Joan McCusker and Marcia Gudereit) to three world championships in 1993, 1994 and 1997 and to the first official Olympic gold medal championship at Nagano, Japan in 1998. Her death, just two years following the Olympic triumph, stunned the curling world and her funeral was televised live on two Canadian networks.
“The legacy of the World Curling Freytag Award has just increased with the addition of the Schmirler name,” said Les Harrison, president of the World Curling Federation and a longtime Moncton resident.
“It will be quite a thrill to see her family accept this award in Moncton.”
Today, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is in its eighth year of “caring for babies in crisis” through direct giving to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) facilities across Canada. The Foundation recognizes in these premature infants the same will to live that fuelled Schmirler’s spirited battle with cancer, and also recognizes that “champions start small.”
“Sandra Schmirler was much more than a decorated athlete,” said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the CCA. “She was a supermom, and her inclusion among previous Freytag winners continues a lifetime of recognition for her family, friends and her legion of curling fans.
“The CCA would like to thank the WCF for accepting the nomination, and also Kruger Products Limited and Sandra’s family and friends for all their work involved with the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.”
Schmirler is the ninth Canadian to receive the Award, now in its 30th year. The first winner was Winnipeg’s Ken Watson in 1978, and the legendary men’s skip from Saskatchewan, Ernie Richardson, was the last Canadian recipient in the Curler (competitor) category, in 2000.
The 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Moncton (April 4-12) will celebrate the 50 years of men’s world championship curling, with a host of special events marking it a must-see on the event calendar.
The championship also marks the final qualifying opportunity for Member Associations of the WCF to gain points to qualify their countries for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Member Associations which have qualified for Moncton are Canada, Scotland, China, Norway, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Czech Republic and Finland.
Brazil will challenge the United States in a qualifying competition at the end of January to declare the 12th and final team.
Links for additional information:
2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship
www.seasonofchampions.ca
Sandra Schmirler Foundation
www.sandraschmirler.org
World Curling Federation
www.worldcurling.org