St. Paul Curling Team Includes 2 Deaf Athletes
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- People go crazy for curling during the Olympics and it's also very popular in our state. And soon, two Minnesota teams will play before the world.
They're all members of the St. Paul Curling Club. But, one thing sets one team apart from the others.
It's that competitive nature of any athlete on any sport, that keeps them going -- that desire to be the best.
"I just love the sport," said Calvin Rausch, through a translator.
Raush recognized curling was his athletic calling, a sport he could play no matter what age he was, no matter what skills he has.
"The game is fun. It's very enjoyable," said Steven Townshend.
Townshend shares the same talents, though some might consider them limitations on the frozen floor.
While other players hear the calls of competing curlers, they hear nothing but silence. The two athletes are deaf.
"We can sign farther away. 'No, I want to call that one,' or 'do this or do that.' But as a hearing person, they have to get closer. It's like 'Oh, what you say, what you say,'" said Townshend.
Just as impressive? How far they've come.
Their team didn't disappoint four years ago in Salt Lake City. They competed in the Olympics for deaf athletes, the "deaflympics."
"Yes, we got silver," said Rausch.
A proud moment then, they're hoping to go farther in their Olympics in Slovakia. There, more than 700 athletes will compete.
"We'll be feeling like we are normal, everyday people. We'll be on an even keel with everyone else," said Rausch, through a translator. "It'll be the first experience for me in the Olympics."
But certainly not his last experience curling.
"I like it here. I know I can continue playing for a long time. As long as I'm able, I can play," Townshend said.
They've overcome an obstacle and they plan to never let it stand in their way of being the best athletes they can be.
It's going to cost each member $3,000 to go to the Deaflympics. If you'd like to help, donations for the U.S. Deaf Curling Team can be made to MinnePaul (501c3, Tax ID 36-3570726).
Mail To:
MinnePaul (U.S. Deaf Curling Team)
408 Bircher Ave.
South St. Paul, MN 55075
For more information, e-mail USDeafCurling@yahoo.com.
WCCO-TV's James Schugel Reports
