Everyone talks about skiing, snowboarding, and figure skating, but one of the teams making history at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics is the U.S. curling team.
The oldest American to compete in the Winter Olympics is a member of the curling team. Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Ruohonen subbed into a men’s curling game on Feb. 11, and became the oldest American to compete in 100 years. The record was previously held by Joseph Savage, a 52-year-old figure skater who competed in pairs skating in 1932.
Competing in the Olympics was a lifelong dream for Ruohonen.
“We made a lot of sacrifices, my family, my two kids and my wife, to pursue this dream and to be so close so many times and not have it happen,” he said. “And then got kind of fortunate to have these guys pick me up and try to help them out in any way I could, and to get out there, it’s a dream. It’s about perseverance and working hard and just hanging in there, you know. And a little bit of luck.”
Cory Thiesse continued to make history as the first American woman to earn an Olympic curling medal. Thiesse earned a silver medal in the mixed-doubles event with partner Korey Dropkin. This also became only the third medal earned by the U.S. curling team, joining the 2006 men’s team, who earned bronze, and team Schuster’s gold medal run in 2018.
Thiesse did not take this historic feat lightly, and understands her place to motivate future athletes.
“I’m really proud and honored to be standing up there and to use this to move women’s curling in the U.S. forward and do what we can as players and as mentors to hopefully see more women from the United States up on that podium some day,” said Thiesse.
Another Olympic first for the curling team came when the women’s team defeated team Canada 9-8, Who’s teams have medaled in the sport at every Winter Olympics since 1998. The U.S. secured the win by capitalizing on a few of Canada’s weak shots, officially making history.
The women’s team was surprised to learn that their defeat was an Olympic first.
“I think we just played a really good game. They’re No. 1 in the world,” said team member Taylor Anderson-Heide. “Apparently, we’ve never beat them in the Olympics before. That makes it just extra special.”
