CSR 374 Britta Curl-Salemme

In this episode of Catholic Sports Radio, host Bruce Wozniak welcomes Britta Curl-Salemme, a forward for the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women's Hockey League and a gold medalist with the U.S. women's ice hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Britta shares her journey from Bismarck, North Dakota, where she grew up in a large Catholic family and attended Catholic schools, to becoming a standout athlete with three NCAA national championships at the University of Wisconsin. She reflects on the challenges of maintaining her faith in college amid a secular environment, finding community through the Newman Center and Bible study. Britta emphasizes the importance of balancing athletic ambition with spiritual fulfillment, noting that while Olympic glory is a career highlight, lasting joy comes from faith. She discusses her devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Avila, her daily spiritual practices, and how she integrates her Catholic faith into game days through prayer, scripture reading, and writing 'Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam' on her hockey stick. Her humility shines through stories of serving with youth groups and cleaning windows with nuns, illustrating her commitment to service over status. She also shares her joyful marriage to a former wrestler who grew in faith through their relationship, culminating in his confirmation and active participation in the Church. The episode closes with a powerful athlete’s prayer and a heartfelt message about choosing Christ above all else.