Led by skip Patrick McDonald, the team set to participate in next year's Games - subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) - features David Palmer, Jimmy Joseph, Penny Greely and Meghan Lino.

"Congratulations to these five outstanding athletes for their nomination to the 2014 US Paralympic Team," said US Chef de Mission Julie O'Neill and team leader for Paralympic sport performance at the USOC.

"I have no doubt that when Patrick, David, Jimmy, Penny and Meghan compete in the red, white and blue on the world's biggest stage this March, in Sochi, Russia, they will make all of us proud.

"I look forward to supporting them as they compete for our country's first Paralympic medal in wheelchair curling."

The US side finished fourth in Vancouver in 2010, just missing out on a medal after losing to Sweden in the bronze medal match.

Jimmy Joseph (left) and David Palmer feature on the nominated US wheelchair curling squad for Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images


The team are currently ranked sixth in the world and will be hoping to build on their performance from the World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Sochi this year that saw them come fourth.

It will be the third straight Games appearance for 51-year-old Joseph, who has been part of the Paralympic team since the sport was introduced into the Paralympic programme in 2006.

McDonald and Greely will be making their second appearance at a Paralympics, with Palmer and Lino making their Paralympic debut when the Games get underway next March.

"The US Curling wheelchair team programme has come a long way since the inception of the international championships in 2002, guided by the expertise of National Coach Steve Brown," said Rick Patzke, USA Curling chief operating officer.

"The athletes have put their hearts and souls into training and competition, and had a medal within their grasp at the 2010 Paralympics.

"Having come so close before has surely increased their hunger for success in Sochi, and we and all of America will be firmly behind them as they chase their dreams in 2014."

The US team will enter a preliminary round-robin stage alongside double Paralympic champions Canada, China, Finland, Great Britain, Korea, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, and Sweden, with the top four teams progressing through to the semi-finals.

The curling team becomes the second set of athletes to be nominated to the USOC ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games with the 17-man ice sledge hockey team being announced yesterday.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2013: Canada plump for experience in pursuit of wheelchair curling title hatrick at Soch 2014
August 2013: Wheelchair curlers first to be confirmed to represent Britain at Sochi 2014 Paralympics
February 2013: Canada tops world wheelchair curling rankings after securing world title
February 2013: Armstrong puts drugs ban behind him to claim third world title
February 2013: Exclusive - Curling President confident ahead of World Wheelchair Championship in Sochi