Norway’s Ulsrud was three-time Olympian
Norwegian curler Thomas Ulsrud, a three-time Olympian who won silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games, died after a long illness, the World Curling Federation said Wednesday. He was 50.
In a Facebook post, Team Ulsrud said the longtime skip, who died Tuesday night, had been fighting cancer since December 2020.
Ulsrud won a world title in 2014 in Beijing and took silver the next year in Halifax. He competed in 12 world curling championships in all.
“He was not only a great player — I think one of the best that Norway has ever had — but also just a wonderful human being and gentleman,” said Canadian John Morris.
A colourful skip with trademark loud pants to match, Ulsrud reached the European championship podium in 11 of 17 appearances. Kate Caithness, president of the world body, said Ulsrud and his teammates made a “huge impact on the international stage.”
“They took the curling world by storm and very quickly fans fell in love with this charismatic team, and in particular their skip Thomas,” she said. “They went on to win the Olympic silver medals in 2010 and attracted fans wherever they curled. They were huge ambassadors for the sport both on and off the ice, and I have always said that Vancouver was the turning point for our sport.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Thomas, who will always have a place in our hearts and in curling’s history. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the curling family around the world.”
Ulsrud guided Norway to a fifthplace finish at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and sixth at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang.