Bismarck's Britta Curl-Salemme Wins Olympic Gold

Britta Curl-Salemme walked into her first Olympics expecting to play a supporting role, and walked out with an Olympic gold medal around her neck.

The Bismarck native has chased this dream since childhood. Now she's made history as part of only the third U.S. women's hockey team to ever win Olympic gold.

"I can't really wrap my head around that was the pinnacle, that was the highest thing I could achieve," Curl-Salemme said. "It just feels cool that I can keep playing the game knowing that I have that under my belt."

The journey took an unexpected turn early in the games. Curl-Salemme thought she'd fill a fourth-line center role, but coaches had different plans.

She spent most of the Olympics on the first line alongside stars Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter. She was on the ice during the most crucial moments of the gold medal game.

"I like to pride myself on being a utility player and being able to do multiple things," Curl-Salemme said. "At a certain point, I'm starting in the Olympics with Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, and I'm like, 'This can't be real.'"

The moment she'll treasure forever came right after the final buzzer. Her husband stood crying tears of joy while her parents celebrated nearby.

"Just seeing their reactions, my husband had tears coming down his face and my parents were, it was just so cool," Curl-Salemme said. "I'm getting emotional just thinking about it."

The Ripple Effect

Veterans of the U.S. National Team have been calling this squad the greatest they've ever seen play. That recognition made the achievement sink in for Curl-Salemme.

"When they tell you that was the greatest team they've ever seen play, that's when it becomes real to you that I was just a part of something that is going to be talked about for a long time," she said. "I just feel very grateful to have my name on that roster."

The gold medal has brought massive attention to women's hockey, especially the PWHL. Curl-Salemme said that's been the best part of the entire experience.

She knows it will take years to fully appreciate what she accomplished, but one thing is already clear: a kid from Bismarck just made Olympic history.