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Brooklyn Park Today
By the People, for the People
54-Year-Old Minnesota Lawyer Becomes Oldest US Winter Olympian
Rich Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer, joined the US curling team as an alternate and made Olympic history.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Minnesota, became the oldest person to compete for the United States at the Winter Olympics. Ruohonen joined the US men's curling team as an alternate during their first match against Switzerland, where they were down 8-2. Despite the lopsided score, Ruohonen was able to make a successful shot, drawing cheers from the crowd and his much younger teammates.
Why it matters
Ruohonen's participation as the oldest US Winter Olympian highlights the longevity and accessibility of the sport of curling, which allows athletes of all ages to compete at the highest levels. His story also showcases the camaraderie and mentorship between younger and older curlers, as Ruohonen has become a sort of honorary uncle to his teammates.
The details
Ruohonen, a six-time winner of the 'Minnesota Attorney of the Year' award, was invited to join the US men's curling team as an alternate for their skip, Danny Casper, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome. Despite his demanding full-time job as a personal injury lawyer, Ruohonen has committed to a rigorous training schedule, waking up at 5 AM three days a week to work out and practice before heading to his law office.
- Ruohonen joined the US men's curling team as an alternate during their first match against Switzerland on Thursday.
- The US men's curling team had fallen behind Switzerland 8-2 when Ruohonen was called in to make a shot.
The players
Rich Ruohonen
A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota who became the oldest person to compete for the United States at the Winter Olympics.
Danny Casper
The 30-year-old skip of the US men's curling team, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome and was replaced by Ruohonen as an alternate.
What they’re saying
“Yeah baby! Good shot, Rich!”
— Danny Casper, Skip, US Men's Curling Team
“I would have rather done it when we were up 8-2 instead of down 8-2, but I really appreciate the guys giving me a chance.”
— Rich Ruohonen
“We got Rich, uh, he's a lawyer. I don't know if you guys knew that.”
— Danny Casper, Skip, US Men's Curling Team
“If you need a lawyer, I think you can call Rich.”
— Danny Casper, Skip, US Men's Curling Team
What’s next
The US men's curling team will continue their round-robin matches at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
The takeaway
Ruohonen's participation as the oldest US Winter Olympian showcases the accessibility and longevity of the sport of curling, as well as the strong bonds and mentorship between younger and older athletes on the team.
