Jessica Schultz facts for kids

Jessica Schultz (born January 2, 1985) is a former American curler. She is famous for competing in two Winter Olympics and winning three U.S. Championships. Jessica now works as a director for the Women’s National Team and Juniors programs at the United States Curling Association.

Jessica Schultz's Curling Journey

Jessica Schultz at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin

Jessica Schultz was a key player on the United States women's curling team. She competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. In March 2006, Jessica took on the role of skip, or team captain, for Team USA. This was during the U.S. World Team Trials. Under her leadership, the team finished in fourth place.

In 2011, Jessica joined the team led by Erika Brown. This team achieved great success together. They won the 2013 United States Women's Curling Championship. This victory allowed them to represent the United States at the 2013 World Women's Curling Championship. They played well, reaching fourth place in the world. They narrowly missed a bronze medal, losing to Canada's Rachel Homan.

The team also earned a spot in the 2014 United States Olympic Curling Trials. They finished first in the initial round. Then, they won a special series against Allison Pottinger's team. This win secured their place at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

After her time as a competitive curler, Jessica Schultz decided to retire. She moved back to her home state of Alaska. There, she focused on helping the sport of curling grow. She even started a non-profit organization called curlAK to support this goal. In May 2020, the United States Curling Association announced her new role. Jessica became the Director of the Women’s National Team and Juniors programs.

Life Outside of Curling

Jessica Schultz used to live in Duluth, Minnesota. While she was a student at Lake Superior College, she studied physical therapy. This field focuses on helping people recover from injuries and improve their movement.

Jessica's Teams Over the Years

Jessica Schultz played on many different curling teams throughout her career. She competed in both women's and mixed doubles events. She often played as the skip, leading her team. She also played other positions like second and third. Her teams competed in many national and international championships. These included the U.S. Junior Curling Championships and the World Junior Curling Championships. She also participated in the U.S. Women's Curling Championship multiple times. Her hard work led to several gold and silver medals in these events.

In mixed doubles, Jessica teamed up with Jason Smith in the 2015–16 season. Together, they won the U.S. Mixed Doubles Championship in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Jessica Schultz para niños