Historic first for Australian women’s curling

History was made for Australian curling in October 2025, when the women’s team, skipped by Helen Williams, qualified for both the final Olympic Qualification Event and the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship 2026.

This marks the first time an Australian women’s team will compete at the World Championship. Their presence at the Olympic Qualification Event in Kelowna in December means Australia’s mixed doubles duo, Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt, will finally have national teammates alongside them on the international stage.

A milestone moment for Australian Curling

At the end of the Pan Continental Curling Championships, Australia secured their place at the Worlds after finishing in sixth place.

Skip Williams reflected, “It feels a little surreal. It’s lovely to have it confirmed. I’ve been skipping the Australian team on and off for 25 years. World qualification has always been a goal, so this is really special. Our goal for this event was to get that sixth place – it’s very important for us as a nation.”

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It’s been quite the journey for the Australian women. Three team members — Michelle Fredericks Armstrong, Karen Titheridge, and Williams herself — live in Perth, Western Australia. The remaining two — Kristen Tsourlenes and Sara Westman — are based over 1,700 miles away in Melbourne, Victoria.

Helen Williams © World Curling / Logan Hannigan-Downs

The Road to the Worlds

The team’s campaign has taken them around the world. They began in Scotland, keeping their Olympic dream alive at the Pre-Olympic Qualification Event in Aberdeen, then traveled to Minnesota for the Pan Continental Curling Championships. Their next stop is Kelowna, British Columbia, for the Olympic Qualification Event. After that, they’ll head to Calgary in March for the World Championship — potentially following a historic appearance at the Olympic Winter Games 2026 in Italy.

Williams confirmed the team is self-funded, describing the financial commitment as “five figures in whatever currency you care to choose.” While they are grateful for sponsor support — including Western Australia’s MGC Civil — each team member has had to contribute personally and rely on supportive employers for flexible working arrangements.

Building a legacy for the next generation

“It’s definitely worth it. It’s so special to be part of the curling community internationally,” she said. “It’s fantastic to represent Australia. We’re such a sport-loving nation, and it’s really important for curling in Australia that we’re competing at the top level. Dean and Tahli have already sparked interest in curling as a Winter Olympic sport, but it’ll be great to have another team representing at the world level.”

“For me personally, it’s important to leave a legacy,” Williams added. “There are now some junior curlers coming through nicely. This is about setting a standard for them to aspire to and growing the sport by bringing in more members.”

Reflecting on her team’s progress, she said, “This journey has definitely changed us — there’s no doubt about that. We’ve grown so much as a team in every aspect of the game. Competing against teams of this calibre has taught us so much. It’s been a great journey.”

And that journey isn’t over yet — watch this space.

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