- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Brooklyn Park Today
By the People, for the People
54-Year-Old Lawyer Becomes Oldest US Winter Olympian
Rich Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer from Minnesota, makes Olympic history as the oldest American to compete at the Winter Games.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has become the oldest American to compete at the Winter Olympics. Ruohonen, a six-time winner of 'Minnesota Attorney of the Year', was brought onto the U.S. men's curling team as an alternate and made his Olympic debut during the team's first match against Switzerland, where they were down 8-2. Despite the score, Ruohonen's teammates gave him a chance to step onto the ice and make history.
Why it matters
Ruohonen's participation in the Winter Olympics at the age of 54 is a remarkable achievement, shattering records and defying expectations about the age limits of elite athletic competition. His story highlights the enduring passion and dedication of older athletes who continue to pursue their dreams, even in the face of younger, fitter competitors.
The details
Ruohonen, who has been a personal injury lawyer for years, has had to balance his full-time job with a rigorous training schedule, waking up at 5 a.m. three days a week to work out and train before heading to his law practice. Despite the demanding schedule, Ruohonen has become a mentor and honorary uncle to his much younger teammates, who have embraced him and given him the opportunity to finally achieve his Olympic dream after falling short on several previous occasions.
- Ruohonen made his Olympic debut on Thursday, February 13, 2026 during the men's curling round-robin match against Switzerland.
- Ruohonen has been a six-time winner of 'Minnesota Attorney of the Year' award.
The players
Rich Ruohonen
A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota who has become the oldest American to compete at the Winter Olympics.
Danny Casper
The 30-year-old skip of the U.S. men's curling team, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome and invited Ruohonen onto the team as an alternate.
What they’re saying
“Yeah baby! Good shot, Rich!”
— Danny Casper, Skip, U.S. 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, U.S. Men's Curling Team
“If you need a lawyer, I think you can call Rich.”
— Danny Casper, Skip, U.S. Men's Curling Team
“I get up three days a week at 5 in the morning, leave my house by 5:15 in the morning, go drive 30 miles to work out and train.”
— Rich Ruohonen (AP)
What’s next
The U.S. men's curling team will continue their round-robin matches at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
The takeaway
Rich Ruohonen's participation in the Winter Olympics at the age of 54 is a remarkable testament to the enduring passion and dedication of older athletes. His story inspires others to pursue their dreams, no matter their age, and highlights the valuable mentorship and experience that veteran athletes can bring to younger teams.
