(NewsNation Now) — It’s a go for gold as Team USA prepares for its challengers at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Among the contenders is a talented curler who credits her success to focus and family.
Two-time Olympian Nina Roth is a mom and pandemic nurse who makes the balancing act look smoother than gliding on ice. She keeps a full schedule, but come next week she will be competing with her curling teammates for a spot on the Olympic podium.
“It’s often described as chess on ice,” Roth said. “So you’re trying to throw your stone down to the other end to get to the center of that target.”
For Roth, curling is in her roots.
“It’s very much a family sport – so that’s how I got into it,” Roth said. “My dad curled when I was little.”
The Wisconsin native says she struck gold when the Madison Curling Club was built just down the road from her McFarland home.
“I was very fortunate to have curled with many Olympians from the Madison Curling Club,” Roth said. “So they would ask me to practice with them. Or fill in at leagues with them.”
From then on, Roth had a vision.
PARK CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 26: Curler Nina Roth poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 26: Curler Nina Roth poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 26: Curler Nina Roth poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
PARK CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 26: Curler Nina Roth poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games on September 26, 2017 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 11: Nina Roth of the United States curling team attends a press conference at the Main Press Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 11, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 11: (L-R) Nina Roth, Tabitha Peterson, Aileen Geving and Corey Christensen of the United States curling team attend a press conference at the Main Press Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 11, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 13: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image was created as an Equirectangular Panorama. Import image into a panoramic player to create an interactive 360 degree view.) Nina Roth of the United States delivers a stone during a Curling training session at the Gangneung Curling Centre on February 13, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 15: Nina Roth, Becca Hamilton and Aileen Geving of the United States compete during the Curling Women’s Round Robin Session 2 held at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 15, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 17: Nina Roth speaks with Aileen Geving, Tabitha Peterson and Becca Hamilton of the United States in a match against Canada during the Women’s Curling Round Robin on day eight of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 17, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 19: Nina Roth of the United States watches action after delivering a stone during Game 1 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 19: Tabitha Peterson of the United States and Nina Roth of the United States celebrate after delivering a stone during Game 1 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 19, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 20: Nina Roth of the United States delivers a stone during Game 2 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 20: Nina Roth of the United States watches action after delivering a stone during Game 2 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 20: Nina Roth of the United States prepares to deliver a stone during Game 2 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 20: Nina Roth of the United States greets her husband Tony while holding their child after winning Game 2 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA – FEBRUARY 19: Nina Roth of the United States of America delivers a stone during Women’s Round Robin Session 9 on day 10 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 19, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – NOVEMBER 20: Nina Roth of the United States greets her husband Tony while holding their child after winning Game 2 of the US Olympic Team Trials at Baxter Arena on November 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
USA’s Nina Roth reacts during the curling women’s round robin session between the US and South Korea during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Curling Centre in Gangneung on February 20, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / WANG Zhao (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I was a very determined 10-year-old girl when I started curling,” Roth explained. “I fell in love with curling. And then right after that, fell in love with the idea of being an Olympian.”
Roth first competed in Pyeongchang in 2018 and said she believes her team is the most prepared they have ever been heading into the Beijing Games.
When Roth isn’t training, she’s on the frontlines of the pandemic, working as a nurse at a critical illness recovery hospital, or spending time with her toddler.
Little Nolan is already showing athletic promise like his mom, but possibly in a different area.
“He’s a very active little 2-year-old. I can see him doing a lot of different sports,” Roth said. “Right now, gymnastics. He seems to have amazing balance. I would love to go to a summer games. I hate the cold.”
Nolan is set to turn 2 while his mom is away for the games. So the family will have reason to celebrate — regardless of how his mom medals.
