Traverse City Curling Club celebrates Team USA's Olympic milestone

The local club hosted a watch party as the U.S. earned its first-ever silver medal in the mixed doubles curling event.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Traverse City Curling Club celebrated Team USA's historic silver medal win in the mixed doubles curling event at the Olympics in Milan, marking the first time the United States has ever reached the gold medal match in that category. While the U.S. team fell to Sweden, members of the local club hosted a watch party to celebrate the milestone and highlight the sport's growing popularity in the region.

Why it matters

Curling has deep historical roots, originating in Scotland, but has struggled to gain widespread popularity in the United States. The national team's success at the Olympics reflects the growth of the sport across the country and the strong sense of community surrounding local curling clubs like the one in Traverse City.

The details

The Traverse City Curling Club gathering highlighted the high level of coordination and communication required to compete in curling, which members compare to a strategic board game. Club member Otto Jensen noted that the sport's accessibility for different age groups and focus on community often attracts new players, allowing participants to stay active and connected with their families for decades.

  • Team USA competed for gold in the mixed doubles curling event in Milan on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Team USA

The United States national curling team, which earned a silver medal in the mixed doubles event at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, marking the first time the U.S. has reached the gold medal match in that category.

Otto Jensen

A member of the Traverse City Curling Club who highlighted the sport's historical roots, growing popularity in the U.S., and the sense of community it fosters.

Traverse City Curling Club

A local curling club in Traverse City, Michigan that hosted a watch party to celebrate Team USA's historic Olympic achievement.

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What they’re saying

“While it hasn't been as popular in America in the past, you know, we know that many other countries have been into it. So it goes back to golf. I mean, it dates back to the Scottish. So it's not a young sport. It's not a new sport. It's an established sport.”

— Otto Jensen, Curling Club Member (9and10news.com)

“If I had an elevator pitch for you about curling, I'd say it's like chess on ice with teammates, but ultimately it's about community.”

— Otto Jensen, Curling Club Member (9and10news.com)

“What I love about it is it's, it's it's a sport that requires so much teamwork and communication and mammoth. That's something we need in our world today, is just to be unified with other people and to be able to communicate well and achieve great things.”

— Otto Jensen, Curling Club Member (9and10news.com)

What’s next

The Traverse City Curling Club plans to continue hosting events and activities to promote the sport and build on the momentum from Team USA's historic Olympic performance.

The takeaway

Curling's growing popularity in the United States, as evidenced by the Traverse City Curling Club's celebration of Team USA's Olympic success, highlights the sport's ability to foster a strong sense of community and the importance of teamwork and communication in achieving great things.