Cheryl Bernard Curling team captain Date of Birth: 30.06.1966 Country: Canada

1. Biography of Cheryl Bernard
2. Overcoming Challenges
3. A Surprising Team
4. A Passion for Curling
5. A Winning Combination
6. Success and Dream Realization
7. 31 Years to Achieve a Dream

Biography of Cheryl Bernard

Cheryl Bernard, born Cheryl Kulman, was born on June 30, 1966, in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. Today, she is a well-known curling player throughout Canada. Cheryl's love for this sport is not surprising, as her parents were avid curling players who taught her how to play. Since the age of 12, Cheryl dreamed of qualifying for the Olympic Games in curling and having the opportunity to win an Olympic gold medal for her country.

Overcoming Challenges

Cheryl's journey to the Olympics was long, as she is now 43 years old. This is considered a relatively advanced age for any athlete, including a curling player. Despite this, Cheryl puts in a tremendous amount of effort to maintain her excellent physical shape. In addition to traditional training, she also goes to the gym daily. She believes that being in good shape is crucial for any athlete.

A Surprising Team

Many people are amazed when they see Cheryl and her team, wondering how this quartet, who were relatively unknown a year ago, managed to qualify for the Olympic Games. The only major games that Cheryl's team had won were the Canadian Curling Games held in December of the previous year in Edmonton. The only international experience Cheryl had was in the 2004 games in Japan. However, there is hardly a team more deserving of participating in the Vancouver Olympics than this curling quartet. Their determination and will to win are unmatched.

A Passion for Curling

Cheryl began playing curling at the age of nine and made her debut in a major championship, the Alberta Provincial Curling Cup, when she turned 22. Although her team lost in those games, she did not lose hope. Cheryl never considered giving up curling, even though her sporting career had more losses than victories.

A Winning Combination

A turning point came in 2006 when Cheryl's team underwent a transformation. Alongside Cheryl Bernard, the team included Susan O'Connor, Carolyn Darbyshire, and Cori Bartel. They complemented each other perfectly, with each member bringing something unique to the team. Cori's humor diffused tense situations, Carolyn took care of everyone like a mother figure, and Susan's tireless energy always kept them moving forward.

Success and Dream Realization

After the team's transformation, success soon followed. In 2007, the revamped lineup won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian Women's Curling Championship. A year later, Cheryl sold her business to fully dedicate herself to the sport. Her decision paid off when the "fantastic four" won the Canadian Curling Championship in 2009 with a score of 6-5, securing a spot for the entire team at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

31 Years to Achieve a Dream

"Just being present at these games and having the opportunity to represent our country here is amazing," says Cheryl. Her dream, which she had held onto for 31 years, finally came true.