54-Year-Old Makes History As Oldest American To Compete At Winter Olympics
on Feb 12, 2026
History has been made for the United States during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old Minnesota attorney, became the oldest American to ever to compete in the Winter Olympics Thursday (February 12). Ruohonen made history when he entered a men’s curling match as a substitute.
Serving as the alternate for skip Danny Casper, Ruohonen was called off the bench with Team USA trailing Switzerland 8–2 after seven ends at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
Ruohonen threw and swept for a single end, helping Casper place the final stone on the button to make the score 8-3. The United States then conceded the match.
“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,” Ruohonen said of his Olympic debut. “I knew they would at some point, and it was great. It was an awesome moment for me, even in a loss. I can’t believe it, the dream came true.”
Ruohonen has waited more than 30 years to make his Olympic debut.
HISTORY AT THE #WinterOlympics. 🇺🇸👏
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 12, 2026
54-year-old curler Rich Ruohonen waited more than 30 YEARS to make his Olympic debut. With the USA's game out of reach, his team subbed him in, making him the oldest American ever to compete at the Winter Games. pic.twitter.com/Pqe91JClmn
A two-time U.S. champion, Ruohonen had competed in the world championships in 2008 and 2018 but had never previously made the Olympic team. He won back-to-back medals at the senior world championships in men’s curling, claiming a silver in 2024 and a bronze in 2025.
He has served as a mentor to the U.S. team, and is twice the age of his next oldest teammate, 27-year-old Ben Richardson. The Minnesota native began curling in 1981 and has been trying to make the U.S. Olympic team since the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
U.S. Olympic Athletes Don’t Allow Age To Slow Them Down
At least half a dozen athletes over the age of 40 came to Italy for the Winter Olympics expecting to contend for medals this year.
Most notably is 41-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn, who took to the slopes with a torn ACL. Vonn remained determined to ski in the Olympics, however she later crashed during a race and had to be airlifted to the hospital.
Snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, 44, also finished seventh in snowboard cross Thursday (February 12). Baumgartner said that remarks suggesting his age might limit his performance only add “fuel to the fire” in his determination to excel.
“When I come here to the Olympics at 44, no one expects me to win or do that well, so it takes the pressure away and I just go out there and I do everything I can,” he added. “When you find something you really love, it’s so much fun to push your body to see what you’re capable of.”
Congratulations to Rich Ruohonen on making U.S. Olympic history!
