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

Rich Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, made Olympic history as the oldest US Winter Olympian at age 54.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Minnesota, became the oldest US Winter Olympian when he stepped onto the ice for the US men's curling team during their match against Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Despite the team being down 8-2 at the time, Ruohonen's teammates gave him a chance to compete, and the US fans gave him a standing ovation for his historic achievement.

Why it matters

Ruohonen's participation in the Winter Olympics at the age of 54 is a remarkable accomplishment, shattering the previous record and demonstrating that age is no barrier to pursuing one's athletic dreams. His story also highlights the intergenerational nature of the US curling team, with the younger players embracing Ruohonen as a mentor and honorary uncle, while also poking fun at his day job as a personal injury lawyer.

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 30-year-old skip, Danny Casper, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome. Despite his busy schedule, which includes waking up at 5 AM three days a week to train, working a full day at his law practice, and then returning to practice in the evenings, Ruohonen has embraced his role on the team, driving the younger players around, waking them up for morning trainings, and buying them snacks. When he finally got his chance to compete, Ruohonen made the most of it, hurling the corner guard and watching his stone land safely on the left flank of the house, much to the delight of the US fans.

  • On Thursday, Ruohonen stepped onto the ice for the US men's curling match against Switzerland.
  • The US team was down 8-2 when Ruohonen was called in as a substitute.

The players

Rich Ruohonen

A 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, who became the oldest US Winter Olympian when he competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Danny Casper

The 30-year-old skip of the US men's curling team, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome and invited Ruohonen to join the team as an alternate.

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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 (Associated Press (AP)

The takeaway

Ruohonen's inspiring story shows that age is no barrier to pursuing one's athletic dreams, and that intergenerational mentorship and camaraderie can play a vital role in the success of a team. His dedication to both his law practice and his curling career is a testament to his passion and determination, and his historic achievement as the oldest US Winter Olympian will undoubtedly inspire others to follow in his footsteps.