Silvana Tirinzoni announces retirement, team split
The expected retirement of Swiss curling legend Silvana Tirinzoni was announced today, and led to a split of the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s curling team.
“It all began at the age of 10, when my dad signed me up for a curling course…” posted the veteran skip. “Now, 37 years later, I feel it’s the right moment to retire.
“This decision is a very difficult one. It hurts. There are tears and it's not easy to find the right words that truly reflect how I feel.
“It might seem crazy to step away while being part of the number one ranked team in the world, but I feel that I’ve pushed myself to my absolute limits.”
Slam win in 2021 • Anil Mungal-The Curling GroupTirinzoni, 46, leaves the Roaring Game with seven Grand Slam titles, seven world championship medals, five European Championship medals and Olympic silver, won last February in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Front-ender Carole Howald is also departing women’s fours play, to focus on mixed doubles and Rock League.
Trusty third Alia Paetz – who threw fourth stones in a fruitful partnership that started in 2018 – will continue along with lead Selina Witschonke, who joined in 2023. They will be shopping for new teammates.
World debut in 2006 • Michael Burns-Curling Canada“I will especially miss the moments nobody sees: the talks after the games, the shared dinners, the laughter in the changing rooms and the everyday life together,” posted Tirinzoni.
“Looking back, I can’t say I enjoyed every single minute. That wouldn’t be the truth. There were tough moments, setbacks and challenges. Moments that made me cry and forced difficult decisions.
“But even in the darkest times of my career, one thing was always clear: I love curling.”
Anil Mungal-The Curling GroupTeam Tirinzoni finished the season with a narrow rankings point lead over Canada’s Team Rachel Homan, the Olympic bronze medallists in Cortina.
Olympic champions Sweden, skipped by Anna Hasselborg, rank third while current world champion Xenia Schwaller of Switzerland is ranked fourth.
Canadian women’s champion and world finalist Kerri Einarson, who recently announced a new team lineup, rounds out the top five.