Private damage lawyer Wealthy Ruohonen grew to become the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian because of a late-game substitution within the males’s curling match towards Switzerland.
Workforce Casper was down 8-2 of their second sport of round-robin play on Thursday with solely a pair ends left within the match. The staff opted to usher in their alternate, a 54-year-old trying to make historical past.
The oldest U.S. Winter Olympian earlier than Ruohonen was Joseph Savage, a 52-year-old determine skater who competed on the 1932 Lake Placid Video games.
The 54-year-old has dreamed of constructing the Olympic staff for 20 years. He began competing in Olympic Trials again in 2006, however had by no means made the lower till this 12 months when he joined Workforce Casper as an alternate.
Making the staff was past emotional for the Minnesota native, who knew these Video games can be his final likelihood.
“It was actually emotional for me as a result of I believed it was over,” he mentioned after Trials in November. “I believed I had retired, principally, and regardless that I am not enjoying full-time or something like that, I really feel like I am a part of the staff. Any method I might help, I’ve helped. Simply to make it this time, I instructed my spouse, it is all price it.”
Ruohonen is the fifth member of Workforce Casper, which is made up of skip Daniel Casper, Luc Violette, Ben Richardson and Aidan Oldenburg
The lads’s staff’s loss to Switzerland brings their round-robin file to 1-1. They tackle Canada subsequent on Friday.
What’s the males’s curling schedule?
The competitors began early, with the primary curlers taking to the ice on Wednesday, Feb. 4, two days earlier than the Opening Ceremony. Curling occasions will proceed during to the top of the Olympic Video games on Feb. 22.
The lads’s staff begins spherical robin play on Feb. 11, a complete week earlier than the semifinals on Feb. 19. This is a take a look at their schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 11:
- Czechia vs. USA — 1:05 p.m. EST
Thursday, Feb. 12:
- USA vs. Switzerland — 8:05 a.m. EST
Friday, Feb. 13:
- Canada vs. USA — 3:05 p.m. EST
Saturday, Feb. 14:
- Germany vs. USA — 8:05 a.m. EST
Sunday, Feb. 15:
- USA vs. Sweden — 3:05 a.m. EST
Sunday, Feb. 15:
- Norway vs. USA — 1:05 p.m. EST
Tuesday, Feb. 17:
- USA vs. China — 13:05 a.m. EST
Tuesday, Feb. 17:
USA vs. Italy — 1:05 p.m. EST
Wednesday, Feb. 18:
USA vs. Nice Britain — 1:05 p.m. EST
Thursday, Feb. 19:
Friday, Feb. 20:
Saturday, Feb. 21:
Curling occasions on the 2026 Olympics will air on NBC New York and USA Community. Streaming can be accessible on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC Olympics app and the NBC app.
It’s the one sport viewers can watch each single day of the 2026 Winter Olympics: Curling, the place gamers take turns throwing the rock towards the home and attempt to get it as near the button as doable. NBC Information’ Steve Kornacki demystifies these key curling phrases and explains learn how to tally up factors.
