Caroline Stanley
Mar 28, 2026
Steve Emt won bronze in the paralympics curling in the first mixed doubles event with his partner Laura Dwyer.
Steve Emt1 was once a college basketball player at UConn and a cadet at Army West Point. But, in 1995 he became paralyzed from the waist down after he was involved in a drunk driving accident. He was 25 at the time. It was only a decade ago that he learned about curling after being simply recruited off the streets, but he has since fallen in love with the sport, not to mention become a star.
Emt also uses his story to speak with students about perseverance and motivation, along with being a high school math teacher and basketball coach. He teaches about the importance of reaching out in community and being supportive of one another in over a hundred schools across the country.
Initially, Emt was not open about his accident. At first, he claimed that a deer ran in front of his car because of his shame of admitting that he was driving under the influence of alcohol. He faced many challenges along the way to where he is now, but every event in his life led him to his next passion. He is proud of his journey and hopes to encourage honesty and that it's never too late for a second chance.
1 https://www.npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-s1-5743543/steve-emt-paralympics-wheelchair-curling
This article was adapted from NPR’s Wheelchair curler Steve Emt's path from drunk driver to three-time Paralympian by Rachel Treisman.
Treisman, Rachel. “Wheelchair curler Steve Emt's path from drunk driver to three-time Paralympian.” NPR.org, 11 Mar. 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-s1-5743543/steve-emt-paralympics-wheelchair-curling.