Sandra Schmirler

Sandra Marie Schmirler
Curler
Schmirler at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Other names	Sandra Peterson
Born	(1963-06-11)June 11, 1963 Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	March 2, 2000(2000-03-02) (aged 36) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Career
Hearts appearances	7 (1987, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)
World Championship appearances	3 (1993, 1994, 1997)
Olympic appearances	1 (1998)
Medal record Women's curling Representing  Canada Olympic Games 1998 Nagano Team World Curling Championships 1993 Geneva Team 1994 Oberstdorf Team 1997 Berne Team Representing  Saskatchewan Scott Tournament of Hearts 1993 Brandon Team 1994 Kitchener-Waterloo Team 1997 Vancouver Team 1995 Calgary Team 1998 Regina Team Canadian Olympic Curling Trials 1997 Brandon Team

Sandra Marie Schmirler, SOM (June 11, 1963 – March 2, 2000) was a Canadian curler who captured three Canadian Curling Championships (Scott Tournament of Hearts) and three World Curling Championships. Schmirler also skipped (captained) her Canadian team to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first year women's curling was a medal sport. At tournaments where she was not competing, Schmirler sometimes worked as a commentator for CBC Sports, which popularized her nickname "Schmirler the Curler" and claimed she was the only person who had a name that rhymed with the sport she played. She died in 2000 at 36 of cancer, leaving a legacy that extended outside of curling. Schmirler was honoured posthumously with an induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and was awarded the World Curling Freytag Award, which later led to her induction into the World Curling Federation Hall of Fame.

While attending Biggar Composite School in Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada, Schmirler started curling in Grade 7 as part of the school's physical education program. She grew up an athlete, playing volleyball, badminton, and softball. She was also an avid speed swimmer. She continued to curl on the local scene, participating in the Biggar Curling Club ladies' league in Grade 9. Playing as third on her high school team, she won a provincial championship in Grade 12, when her team went undefeated throughout the season. She continued to curl after graduating from high school, while attending the University of Saskatchewan. While in university, Schmirler made her first appearance in Saskatchewan's provincial playdowns in 1983. After graduating university, Schmirler moved to Regina to take a job at the North West Leisure Centre. She continued to curl, and was given the nickname "Schmirler the Curler" by a supervisor at the facility. In 1987, as a member of Kathy Fahlman's rink, Schmirler won her first provincial championship, sending her to her first national championship, where she and her team finished in fourth place with a 7–5 win-loss record.