04/15/2026
Congrats to an amazing career! Wow, so many amazing accomplishments and memories!
A message from Silvana Tirinzoni:
It all began at the age of 10, when my dad signed me up for a curling course ...
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.
I achieved far more than I ever dreamed of. It feels almost surreal to realize that, together with my teammates, I won 7 Grand Slam titles, 5 European Championship medals, 7 World Championship medals and an Olympic silver medal.
But curling gave me so much more than just medals or titles.
It gave me friendships, purpose and memories that will stay with me forever.
I'm especially proud of the decision to leave my well-paid job to become a full-time curler at the age of 39. It's a reminder that it's never too late to follow your passion and chase your dreams, no matter how challenging the path may seem.
I'm already realizing that retirement means more than just leaving a sport. It also means leaving teammates and coaches who became family; sponsors, fans and opponents who became friends.
I will miss watching Carole and Selina sweep Alina's shots for the win.
But 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.
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.
I leave proud of my journey, with a heart full of memories and thankful for every single person who was part of it.
Thank you to all my teammates over the years who walked that path with me.
Sabrina, Annina, Tanja, Martina, Michele, Brigitte, Emilie, Vera, Nicole, Sandra A., Anna, Karin, Irene, Carmen, Christine, Sandra G., Manuela, Marlene, Melanie, Briar, Selina, Carole, Alina, and Esther.
You made this journey unforgettable.
Thank you to Sporthilfe and all our sponsors for your trust and support. You have all been a big part of our success.
A big thank you to Mirjam Ott, Ralph Schoenfeld, Heinz Muller and all my other wonderful coaches and mentors. You made me a better curler, a better teammate and a better person.
Pierre, thank you for everything you are to me. As a coach, you've been amazing, but it's who you are beyond that, that means the most. Sharing this journey with you and having you by my side has been truly special.
And finally ... thank you to my family for your unconditional love and support through it all.
Curling will always be part of me. And I will always be grateful.
-Silvana Tirinzoni
