Cham, 23.09.2022

Happy in both sport and private life

The 28-year-old curler from Cham, who was married in the summer, is now playing in the world champion Tirinzoni team. She also gets tips from her well-known father.

The team around Skip Silvana Tirinzoni, world champion in  2019, 2021 and 2022, had to regroup itself last summer, as Melanie Barbezat and Esther Neuenschwander left the team, and Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann, who was previously with the Oberwallis Team (Swiss Champion in 2020), is now a member of the world-classTirinzoni team.

"This change is the new challenge I was looking for," says Hürlimann, who now lives in Recherswil in Solothurn after marrying fellow curler Yannick Schwaller last July.

Even at the age of 28 you are still able to learn
"Silvana Tirinzoni and Alina Pätz are among the world's best players, and have celebrated many national and international titles. Playing with them is a big deal for me," explains the 28-year-old. Most recently, Team Tirinzoni, which plays for CC Aarau, was able to celebrate its third world championship title in a row in Calgary in April – no World Cup was held in 2020 due to the pandemic.

"I want to build on these great successes and take a step forward. You can always develop, and there is a learning process, even at my age," says Briar Schwaller, who is the daughter of the 1998 Olympic champion Patrick Hürlimann.

Speaking of which: Is there an exchange of ideas between father and daughter?

"Absolutely. Of course, curling is always an issue in our family. I receive advice that makes it easier for me to make decisions. These conversations are important to me."

Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann and her husband Yannick are a successful mixed team.               Photo: Celine Stucki
Team Tirinzoni were the world champions in 2022

 

The ticket for the EM will be awarded at the end of October
Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann doesn’t rely solely on sports, but also teaches at a primary school in Lotzwil, Bern. The next big sporting goal is to participate with CC Aarau in the European Championships, which will take place from 19 to 26 November in Östersund (Sweden).

"We have to qualify for the various tournament, and the calculations will be carried out on 23 October. The four best results are included in the evaluation, which then determines the selection," she explains.

One of these European Championship qualifiers will take place this week, with the Women's Masters Basel on the programme from 23 to 25 September. Briar Schwaller says:

"I'm looking forward to the home crowd. Playing in Switzerland is always something special."

This tournament will also feature her sister, Corrie Hürlimann, as well as Raphaela Keiser from Zug in their respective teams. Raphaela Keiser plays together with Selina Witschonke from Sempach, among others.

The other goals of Team Tirinzoni are a place in the top 5 in the worldwide club ranking, winning the Swiss Champion title and participating in the World Cup in March 2023, which will also be held in Sweden. Briar Schwaller emphasizes that the Olympic Games are a long-term goal: they will take place not far from Switzerland in 2026, in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Her husband is also in the team
The 28-year-old is also pursuing high goals in mixed curling, in which she plays with her husband Yannick Schwaller for CC Solothurn Regio.

The two celebrated the Swiss champion title in 2021 and the SM silver medal in February 2022. "Participating in a World Cup or at the Olympics would be a great experience. We are working hard for this," adds Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann.