Jentsch Sisters Leave German Curling

Two mainstays of German women’s curling have called it quits.

Daniela and Analena Jentsch announced their retirements from high performance curling in a Team Jentsch social media post today.

“We wanted to inform you that our team decided to go our separate ways after this season” read the post.

“Analena and Daniela will also step away from competitive curling.”

The sport had become a grind for the veteran skip Daniela, who first teamed up with her sister in 2015.

“Yes, I haven’t enjoyed (curling) for over a year now,” Jentsch told The Curling News. “Every time I looked at my suitcase I felt sick to my stomach.

“But when I commit to something, I’m battling through no matter what. Until after this season I felt it was the right time to listen to my instincts and ever since I made the decision, a few weeks ago, I felt so relieved.”

Jentsch and her sister appeared in eight world championships and seven European championships, most recently with teammates Emira Abbes, Lena Kapp and Pia-Lisa Schöll.

Jentsch also competed at the 2000 worlds, as well as three world junior championships between 1997 and 2002.

Her squad scored two medals at the European Championships, both bronze, in 2018 and 2021. The first breakthrough to the podium remains a career highlight.

“We had started a new team and worked so hard to win a medal in our first year,” said Jentsch.

Team Jentsch notably battled through two positive COVID-19 tests at the 2021 worlds, and competed with a three-player lineup throughout the week, posting an impressive 6-7 won/loss record to finish ninth out of 14 teams.

Curling fans responded by mailing care packages to the two stranded competitors at their hotel.

The sisters’ father, Roland Jentsch, competed in three world men’s championships and won the 1991 European title.

Daniela, a 41-year-old mother of two, is scheduled to receive a diploma in sport coaching in July.

“After that I will mostly focus on my kids and enjoy the free time to travel,” said Jentsch.

“I’m starting my masters in September but other than that I will be, for the first time in many, many years, taking it slow and see what life has in store for me.”