54-Year-Old Minnesota Lawyer Becomes Oldest US Winter Olympian

Rich Ruohonen joined the US curling team as an alternate, making Olympic history at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Minnesota, made Olympic history by becoming the oldest US Winter Olympian. Ruohonen joined the US men's curling team as an alternate for the match against Switzerland, where he stepped onto the ice and delivered a successful shot despite the team being down 8-2. Ruohonen's teammates, who are 30 years younger than him, have embraced him as an honorary uncle, helping him achieve his Olympic dream after falling short in the past.

Why it matters

Ruohonen's participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics at the age of 54 is a remarkable feat, shattering age barriers and inspiring older athletes to pursue their Olympic dreams. His story highlights the inclusive nature of curling and the sport's ability to bring together athletes of different generations.

The details

Ruohonen, a six-time winner of the 'Minnesota Attorney of the Year' award, stepped onto the ice in the final moments of the US men's curling match against Switzerland, where the team was down 8-2. Despite the score, Ruohonen delivered a successful shot, earning a standing ovation from the US fans. Ruohonen's younger teammates, including skip Danny Casper who was born in 2001, have embraced him as an honorary uncle, helping him with tasks like driving, waking up for morning trainings, and buying snacks. Ruohonen maintains a demanding schedule, waking up at 5 am three days a week to train before heading to his law practice and then returning to practice in the evenings.

  • Ruohonen joined the US men's curling team as an alternate for the match against Switzerland on Thursday.
  • Ruohonen stepped onto the ice in the final moments of the match, where the US team was down 8-2.

The players

Rich Ruohonen

A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, who has become the oldest US Winter Olympian after joining the US men's curling team as an alternate.

Danny Casper

The skip of the US men's curling team, who is 30 years younger than Ruohonen.

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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

“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 US men's curling team will continue to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with Ruohonen as an alternate.

The takeaway

Ruohonen's participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics at the age of 54 is a testament to the inclusive nature of curling and the sport's ability to bring together athletes of different generations. His story inspires older athletes to pursue their Olympic dreams and highlights the importance of mentorship and intergenerational collaboration in sports.