North Dakota Family Celebrates Britta Curl-Salemme's Olympic Gold

Gretchen and Bill Curl say they're proud of their daughter, who won gold with Team USA's women's hockey team.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Britta Curl-Salemme, a member of the U.S. women's hockey team, won Olympic gold after an overtime thriller against their rivals to the north. Curl-Salemme was a key player in the team's success, scoring six points in seven games as the U.S. women's team cruised to gold, outscoring their opponents 33-2. Her parents, Gretchen and Bill Curl, were in Italy and did not miss a game, though they admitted the nerves changed a little bit during the gold medal game.

Why it matters

Britta Curl-Salemme's Olympic gold medal win is a source of immense pride for her family and the Bismarck community. As the first-ever Olympian from North Dakota's capital city, her achievement serves as an inspiration for young girls in the state who aspire to play hockey at the highest level.

The details

Curl-Salemme's road to gold has been marked by perseverance. She was the last player cut from the 2022 Olympic team but was later added to the roster after someone got hurt. However, just before traveling to Beijing, she tested positive for COVID and had to stay home. Despite these setbacks, Curl-Salemme developed a professional mentality at a young age, with early morning workouts, healthy eating, and a focus on skill development. She chose to chase her Olympic dream at home in Bismarck, rather than attend school and train outside of North Dakota.

  • Britta Curl-Salemme won Olympic gold with the U.S. women's hockey team in February 2026.
  • Curl-Salemme returns to the ice on Sunday, March 1, 2026, to play for the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

The players

Britta Curl-Salemme

A member of the U.S. women's hockey team who won Olympic gold in 2026, scoring six points in seven games as the U.S. women's team cruised to victory.

Gretchen Curl

Britta Curl-Salemme's mother, who was in Italy to watch her daughter compete in the Olympics.

Bill Curl

Britta Curl-Salemme's father, who was in Italy to watch his daughter compete in the Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“So happy for the whole team, she feels it's such an honor and that dream has come true.”

— Gretchen Curl, Britta Curl-Salemme's mother (inforum.com)

“The majority of the games were super fun, I wasn't nervous at all, we were just enjoying it.”

— Gretchen Curl, Britta Curl-Salemme's mother (inforum.com)

“I was praying so hard it wasn't going to hurt the team.”

— Bill Curl, Britta Curl-Salemme's father (inforum.com)

“Everything she has been through and how hard she has been working over many, many years, it's just fun to see it has come to this and paid off well.”

— Gretchen Curl, Britta Curl-Salemme's mother (inforum.com)

“It shows kids you can do it no matter where you are from, what opportunities you are given, if you work hard enough, you can do something like this.”

— Bill Curl, Britta Curl-Salemme's father (inforum.com)

What’s next

Britta Curl-Salemme returns to the ice on Sunday, March 1, 2026, to play for the Minnesota Frost, who are part of the Professional Women's Hockey League.

The takeaway

Britta Curl-Salemme's Olympic gold medal win is a testament to her perseverance and hard work, and serves as an inspiration for young girls in North Dakota who aspire to play hockey at the highest level. Her achievement shows that with dedication and determination, athletes from small communities can achieve greatness on the world stage.