US and British Curlers Overcome Adversity, Join Record Number of Women at Paralympics

American Laura Dwyer and Brit Joanna Butterfield share inspiring stories of resilience on the road to the 2026 Winter Games.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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American Laura Dwyer and British athlete Joanna Butterfield, both wheelchair curlers, have overcome significant personal challenges to compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Dwyer suffered a life-altering accident when a large tree branch fell on her, while Butterfield faced paralysis after a spinal cord tumor surgery and later battled breast cancer. Despite these setbacks, the two women have persevered and are part of a record-setting number of female athletes at the Winter Paralympics this year.

Why it matters

The stories of Dwyer and Butterfield highlight the incredible resilience and determination of Paralympic athletes, who overcome immense personal obstacles to compete at the highest level. Their participation also reflects the growing representation of women in Paralympic sports, with a record 160 female competitors at the 2026 Winter Games.

The details

Dwyer, a 48-year-old American from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, was a high school and college athlete before a 2012 accident left her paralyzed. After years of rehabilitation and counseling, she discovered wheelchair curling and joined the U.S. national team. Butterfield, a 46-year-old Brit, was also paralyzed in 2011 after a surgery to remove a spinal cord tumor. She went on to win gold in the club throw event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, but had to switch to wheelchair curling when that event was removed from the program. Butterfield then faced another challenge when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, but continued to train and compete during her treatment.

  • In 2012, Dwyer was involved in a freak accident where a 1,000-pound tree branch fell on her, leaving her paralyzed.
  • Butterfield was paralyzed in 2011 after a surgery to remove a spinal cord tumor.
  • Butterfield won gold in the club throw event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Butterfield was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of the training cycle for the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
  • The 2026 Winter Paralympics are taking place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The players

Laura Dwyer

A 48-year-old American wheelchair curler from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who is competing in her first Paralympics after a life-altering accident left her paralyzed in 2012.

Joanna Butterfield

A 46-year-old British wheelchair curler who is hoping to become the first athlete from the UK to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, having previously won gold in the club throw event at the 2016 Rio Games.

Steve Emt

Dwyer's teammate on the U.S. wheelchair curling mixed doubles team.

Jason Kean

Butterfield's partner on the British wheelchair curling mixed doubles team.

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What they’re saying

“This is the greatest opportunity in the world, to show others what it looks like to work hard towards a goal. The Paralympics is the best of the best. And to come here means you did it. It means you worked hard, you didn't let something stop you. You found this purpose or this goal and worked at it.”

— Laura Dwyer (The Associated Press)

“Before I even knew her story, just the way she carried herself and the vibe she put out, I knew this was gonna be a good fit for the program. So we just threw everything at her, and real quick, and she took it in. Everything about her, being a mother, being a wife, being a survivor of a terrible accident. It's all part of the big package that she presents and we're happy that she's around.”

— Steve Emt, Dwyer's Teammate (The Associated Press)

“I went into an operation to remove that tumor, and there was a 0.01% chance that you could be paralyzed. And I was the statistic. I guess somebody has to be.”

— Joanna Butterfield (The Associated Press)

“I said, 'Was there not an unwritten rule that somebody in a wheelchair couldn't get cancer?' But apparently not.”

— Joanna Butterfield (The Associated Press)

“I remember the early days of treatments, chemotherapy was every week. When I was on the ice training, it was the only time I didn't think about it. It was my happy place. It was when I was just 'Joe the athlete' competing, training, not thinking about dying or cancer or treatments.”

— Joanna Butterfield (The Associated Press)

What’s next

Butterfield remains focused on her goal of becoming the first British athlete to win gold medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics. She has her sights set on the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, where the club throw event will make its return to the Paralympic program.

The takeaway

The inspiring stories of Dwyer and Butterfield demonstrate the incredible resilience and determination of Paralympic athletes, who overcome immense personal challenges to compete at the highest level. Their participation in the 2026 Winter Games also reflects the growing representation of women in Paralympic sports, with a record number of female competitors this year.