USA:s herrcurlinglag, lett av 24-årige skipen Danny Casper, tävlar i Milan Cortina 2026 vinter-OS med en blandning av ungdomlig energi och erfarenhet. Reserven Rich Ruohonen, 54, blev den äldste amerikanske vinterolympiern under en match mot Schweiz. Lagkamraten Aidan Oldenburg har blivit viralt känd som ’Curling Rambo’ för sin röda bandana och svepförmåga.
På Milan Cortina 2026 vinter-OS har USA:s herrcurlinglag, med Danny Casper som skip, inlett rondrobinfasen med rekordet 1–2. De besegrade Tjeckien med 8–7 på onsdagen, men förlorade med 8–3 mot Schweiz på torsdagen och 6–3 mot Kanada på fredagen. Casper, som gör olympisk debut, för med sig självförtroende till isen. ”Jag tittar till höger, till vänster och ner längs banan, och tänker att det inte finns någon god anledning att jag ska missa det här kastet”, sa han till NBC News. The team includes lead Aidan Oldenburg, second Ben Richardson, third Luc Violette, and alternate Rich Ruohonen. Oldenburg has become a viral sensation, dubbed 'Curling Rambo' for his red bandanna, curly hair, and glasses, drawing comparisons to gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik. He started wearing the bandanna as a joke during a tournament last year to keep sweat out of his eyes. Nedoroscik sent a video message: ”I just want to say I came across your story and I find you to be such a cool, interesting dude... If you guys ever need a plus one on your curling team, feel free to reach out.” Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer from Minnesota and six-time Minnesota Attorney of the Year, substituted in during the loss to Switzerland when the team trailed 8-2. He threw a corner guard, earning cheers and becoming the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian at 54. ”I would have rather done it when we were up 8-2 instead of down 8-2,” Ruohonen said. He has spoken out about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Minnesota, stating, ”What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray.” Casper's team upset veteran John Shuster's squad in the U.S. trials in November to qualify, later securing their Olympic spot with a win over China. National Team Director Phill Drobnick praised the young roster: ”These guys are young and they’ve got a lot of opportunities.” Six of the 11 U.S. Olympic curlers hail from Minnesota, where the sport has deep roots for Casper, who moved there at 19 to train.
