Personal injury attorney Rich Ruohonen became the oldest American Winter Olympian thanks to a late-game substitution in the men’s curling match against Switzerland.
Team Casper trailed 8-2 in their second round-robin match on Thursday with just a few points left in the match. The team opted to bring in their alternate, a 54-year-old who wants to make history.
The oldest American Winter Olympian before Ruohonen was Joseph Savage, a 52-year-old figure skater who competed in the 1932 Lake Placid Games.
The 54-year-old has dreamed of being part of the Olympic team for twenty years. He started competing in the Olympic Trials in 2006, but hadn’t made it until this year when he joined Team Casper as an alternate.
Making the team was extremely emotional for the Minnesota native, who knew these Games would be his last chance.
“It was very emotional for me because I thought it was over,” he said after the trials in November. “I actually thought I was retired, and even though I’m not playing full-time or anything like that, I feel like I’m part of the team. However I could help, I helped. To make it this time, I told my wife, it’s all worth it.”
Ruohonen is the fifth member of Team Casper, which consists of Skip Daniel Casper, Luc Violette, Ben Richardson and Aidan Oldenburg
The men’s team’s loss to Switzerland brings their round-robin record to 1-1. They will take on Canada on Friday.
What is the men’s curling schedule?
The competition started early and the first curlers took to the ice on Wednesday, February 4, two days before the opening ceremony. Curling events will continue until the end of the Olympic Games on February 22.
The men’s team begins round robin play on February 11, a full week before the semifinals on February 19. Here’s a look at their schedule:
Wednesday February 11:
- Czech Republic vs. USA – 1:05 PM EST
Thursday February 12:
- USA vs. Switzerland – 8:05am EST
Friday February 13:
- Canada vs. USA – 3:05 PM EST
Saturday February 14:
- Germany vs. USA – 8:05am EST
Sunday February 15:
- USA vs. Sweden – 3:05 EST
Sunday February 15:
- Norway vs. USA – 1:05 PM EST
Tuesday February 17:
- US vs. China – 1:05 PM EST
Tuesday February 17:
USA vs. Italy – 1:05 PM EST
Wednesday February 18:
US vs. Great Britain – 1:05 PM EST
Thursday February 19:
Friday February 20:
Saturday February 21:
Curling events at the 2026 Olympic Games will be broadcast on NBC New York and USA Network. Streaming will be available on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.comthe NBC Olympics app and the NBC app.
It’s the one sport viewers can watch every day of the 2026 Winter Olympics: Curling, where players take turns throwing the rock at the house and trying to get it as close to the button as possible. NBC News’ Steve Kornacki demystifies these important curling terms and explains how to add points.
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