Val Sweeting's Cross-Canada Curling Legacy Shines at Women's World Championship
CALGARY — As the World Women's Curling Championship progresses in Calgary, Team Canada's Val Sweeting stands out as an athlete whose career has truly spanned the nation. The 38-year-old vice-skip/third for Kerri Einarson's rink has competed and won in multiple provinces, making her uniquely qualified to wear the maple leaf with pride.
A Career Spanning Multiple Provinces
Val Sweeting's curling journey began in her native Saskatchewan, where she learned the sport in Maryfield. Her competitive path then took her through Alberta before she eventually found herself representing Manitoba with Team Einarson. This cross-country experience has given her a rare perspective on Canadian curling talent.
"It's been an honour and a privilege to represent each province," Sweeting reflected. "I think there's so many good curlers in each of them. You never really know what's gonna happen or what's next. There's so much talent out there."
The curler from Redvers, Saskatchewan, expressed particular affection for her time in Alberta, noting that "Alberta has always been one of my homes. And same with Saskatchewan. Both are near and dear."
Team Canada's Strong Performance at Worlds
As Day 6 unfolded at the World Women's Curling Championship, Team Canada continued their impressive run with an 8-3 victory over Korea's Gim Eun-ji. This win improved their record to 8-1 and secured their spot in the playoff round at WinSport Event Centre.
The Canadian squad, featuring skip Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Manitoba, along with Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, and lead Karlee Burgess, now finds themselves tied with Switzerland's Xenia Schwaller at the top of the standings. Their performance has positioned them as strong contenders for the world title that has eluded them thus far in their decorated careers.
Building Toward Championship Weekend
With playoff qualification secured, Team Canada turned their attention to Thursday evening's matchup against Norway's Torild Bjørnstad. The game represented another opportunity to build momentum heading into the championship weekend.
For Sweeting, competing in Calgary holds special significance given her history in Alberta. "Really looking forward to having the full experience in Calgary," she said ahead of the team's pursuit of their first world championship. "Especially in my home province."
A Decorated Career Across Multiple Eras
Sweeting's curling accomplishments span nearly two decades, beginning with her appearance at the 2007 Canadian Junior Curling Championships where she played third for Saskatoon's Hailey Surik representing Saskatchewan. Her breakthrough in women's curling came in 2010 when, at just 22 years old, she skipped her team to the Alberta provincial championship.
That memorable victory saw Sweeting's rink from Edmonton's Saville Sports Centre—featuring third Megan Einarson, second Whitney More, and lead Lindsay Makichuk—defeat established teams including Cathy King in the semifinals and Shannon Kleibrink in the championship final.
"I'm grateful for the teammates I've had over the years and for the career I've had," Sweeting said, reflecting on her journey. Her career has indeed been "one bursting with accolades," as she and her current teammates now seek to add the missing world championship title to their impressive resumés.
As the competition intensifies in Calgary, Sweeting's cross-Canada experience and championship pedigree provide valuable leadership for Team Canada's pursuit of curling's ultimate prize on home ice.
