Hans Frauenlob (born 22 November 1960) is a retired New Zealand curler originally from Barrie, Ontario.

Hans Frauenlob
Born (1960-11-22) 22 November 1960 (age 63)
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Curling career
Member Association New Zealand
World Championship
appearances
4 (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
World Mixed Doubles Championship
appearances
1 (2013)
Pacific-Asia Championship
appearances
10 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Olympic
appearances
1 (2006)
Medal record
Men's curling
Representing  New Zealand
Pacific Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Qualicum Beach
Gold medal – first place 2000 Esquimalt
Gold medal – first place 2003 Aomori
Gold medal – first place 2004 Chuncheon
Silver medal – second place 2001 Jeonju
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Karuizawa
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Tokoro
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Taipei
World Senior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Fredericton
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Sochi

Career

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Frauenlob moved to New Zealand in around 1995,[1] settling in Auckland. Before moving to New Zealand, he worked as a computer expert for the Toronto Blue Jays for six years, and was awarded with the team's World Series winning rings when the team won in 1992 and 1993. He was able to acquire New Zealand citizenship because his mother was born there. After moving to New Zealand, he worked for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.[2]

In 1997 Frauenlob was selected to represent New Zealand in their Men's curling team.[3] Frauenlob played most of his career as third for skip Sean Becker. With Becker, Frauenlob won three Pacific Curling Championships in 1998, 2003, and 2004. He also won the Pacific Curling Championships in 2000 as second under skip Dan Mustapic. Frauenlob played with Becker in the 2004 and 2005 World Men's Curling Championships, finishing in seventh and eighth place, respectively. Frauenlob also was part of the first curling team to represent New Zealand at the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Torino.[4][5] Skipped by Becker, the team finished in last place, with a 0–9 win–loss record.

After Frauenlob reached the age of eligibility to participate in senior curling events, he skipped New Zealand at the 2012 World Senior Curling Championships, but lost in the quarterfinals to Sweden's Connie Östlund. He also skipped New Zealand at the next year's championships, and went all the way to the final before losing to Canada's Rob Armitage.[6] At the same time, he played in the 2013 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, and finished in fifth after losing in the quarterfinals. In 2015, he skipped New Zealand to a bronze medal at the 2015 World Senior Curling Championships.[citation needed]

Frauenlob announced his retirement from competitive curling in 2023.[citation needed]

Television commentator

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Frauenlob has been a live sports commentator for a number of events. His first commentary provided voiceover comments for Television New Zealand for the 2002 Winter Olympics. He has done live commentary for World Curling Television from multiple Pacific-Asia and World Curling championships. He did host broadcaster curling commentary for the 2018 Winter Olympics, worldfeed curling commentary for the 2022 Winter Olympics,[7] as well as for multiple New Zealand Winter Games.[citation needed]

He has done television baseball commentary for the Auckland Tuatara of the Australian Baseball League.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Harbour City Star, 12 Dec 1998, pg B6
  2. ^ "New Zealand third has World Series rings". Edmonton Journal. 4 April 2005. p. 39. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Hans Frauenlob". www.curling.org.nz. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. ^ Hans Frauenlob | New Zealand Olympic Team
  5. ^ "Hans Frauenlob – Curl runnings". Xero. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Curling Canada | Canada sweeps gold medals at World Seniors". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Commentaries by Hans Frauenlob". olympics.icdb.tv. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
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