[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, April 17th, 2024] — With great sadness, USA Curling shares the news of the passing of Paralympic athlete Dave Palmer. 

Born in 1960 in Marlborough, MA, Palmer took up the sport of wheelchair curling in 2007 at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth, MA, developing his skills under the guidance of the late Tony Colacchio. As part of Team USA, Palmer was coached by Steve Brown, and competed in the 2012 and 2013 World Wheelchair Curling World Championships, along with the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, where the team recorded a fifth-place finish.

A kind, loving soul and a gifted storyteller, Palmer was widely respected around the globe for his skill on the ice and his sense of humor off it. In 2016, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from USA Curling, recognizing his competitive success, along with his tireless efforts to grow the sport of wheelchair curling and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Palmer retired from elite wheechair curling in 2015, and relocated to Florida with his beloved wife, Denise. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

About USA Curling

Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, Thorne, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.