{{short description|American wheelchair curler (born 1977)}} {{Infobox curler | name = Laura Dwyer | image = | caption = | other_names = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|8|9}} | birth_place = Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S. | Curling club = | Skip = | Fourth = | Third = | Second = | Lead = | Alternate = | Member Association = {{USA}} | World Wheelchair Championship appearances = 3 ({{WWhCC|2023}}, {{WWhCC|2024}}, {{WWhCC|2025}}) | World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Championship appearances = 1 ({{WWhMDCC|2025}}) | Paralympic appearances = 1 (2026) | Other appearances = | medaltemplates = }} '''Laura Dwyer''' (born August 9, 1977) is an American wheelchair curler. She represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
==Career== Dwyer competed at the 2024 World Wheelchair-B Curling Championship and won a gold medal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usacurling.org/press-releases/2024world-b-wheelchair-aezjt |title=USA Wins Gold at World Wheelchair Curling B Championship |website=wausaucurling.org |date=November 7, 2025 |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref>
In February 2026, she was selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/2026-paralympics-oconomowoc-woman-compete-after-overcoming-injury |title=2026 Paralympics: Oconomowoc woman to compete after overcoming injury |website=fox6now.com |first=Ashley |last=Sears |date=February 19, 2026 |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7092005/2026/03/06/paralympics-curling-steve-emt-laura-dwyer-usa/ |title=At Paralympics, U.S. curlers Steve Emt and Laura Dwyer are right where they belong |work=The Athletic |first=Charlotte |last=Carroll |date=March 6, 2026 |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref>
At the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina, Dwyer competed in the inaugural mixed doubles wheelchair curling event alongside Steve Emt. The pair advanced to the semifinals and ultimately finished in fourth place.
==Personal life== In May 2012, Dwyer was doing her job as a landscaper when a 1,000-pound tree branch fell from 40 feet up, and left her with 26 broken ribs, three broken toes, and paralyzed from the waist down as a result of a spinal cord injury in her T12 and L1 vertebrae.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/laura-dwyer-was-paralyzed-after-a-branch-fell-on-her/vi-AA1QoNyl |title=Laura Dwyer was paralyzed after a branch fell on her |website=msn.com |date=November 13, 2025 |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/laura-dwyer |title=Laura Dwyer |website=teamusa.com |access-date=March 9, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{World Curling}} * {{Team USA|new_id=laura-dwyer}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/results/athlete-details/60478 Laura Dwyer] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Instagram|name=Laura Rasmussen Dwyer}}<!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dwyer, Laura}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:American female curlers Category:American wheelchair curlers Category:Paralympic wheelchair curlers for the United States Category:Wheelchair curlers at the 2026 Winter Paralympics Category:21st-century American sportswomen
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