A New Generation Of American Curlers Arrives On The Olympic Stage - Beritaja

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — When Danny Casper prepares to throw, assurance takes over.

“I look to my right, look to my near and down the sheet, and I conscionable deliberation there’s nary bully logic that I should miss this shot," he told Beritaja.

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The 24-year-old skip of the U.S. men’s Olympic curling squad is bringing his ain flair arsenic he competes successful his first Winter Games. Casper is joined by teammates Luc Violette, Aidan Oldenburg, Ben Richardson, and alternate Rich Ruohonen — the oldest personnel of Team USA astatine the Milan Cortina Olympics and the oldest American ever to compete astatine the Winter Games.

Team Casper is 1-2 successful the men’s curling information robin, defeating Czechia 8-7 connected Wednesday earlier falling to Switzerland 8-3 connected Thursday and Canada 6-3 connected Friday.

Curling became an integral portion of Casper’s life early on. His begetter signed him up for the athletics erstwhile he was 12 and his family’s Olympic roots tally deep. Carla Casper, his awesome aunt, competed astatine the 1988 Winter Olympics successful curling erstwhile it was a objection event, meaning it was played to beforehand the sport, alternatively than arsenic portion of the charismatic badge competition. Her husband, Tom Casper, coached the U.S. men’s squad astatine the 1998 Games, erstwhile it was permanently added arsenic an charismatic badge sport.

At 19, Casper moved to Minnesota to prosecute the athletics competitively.

“When everyone makes it to the higher levels, I don’t want to opportunity you’re expected to move to Minnesota, but possibly get the wink, wink, and are told it mightiness beryllium successful your champion liking to move retired here.”

The travel paid off, now gathering his Olympic moment.

Rapper and honorary coach of Team USA Snoop Dogg and Daniel Casper, of the USA curling team, astatine the Winter Games connected Feb. 6.Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

The squad pulled disconnected a monolithic upset against Team Shuster successful the U.S. Team Trials successful November. For 20 years, John Shuster ruled the nation’s sheets, making it to 5 consecutive Winter Olympics and skipping a squad that won the country’s lone golden badge successful 2018.

“We were alert of what they’ve accomplished, and the respect is astatine an all-time high,” Casper said. “At the aforesaid time, them being our bully friends, that was benignant of a difficult day.”

Team Casper later earned its spot astatine the Milan Cortina Olympics, pinch a qualifying triumph complete China.

Danny Casper attends the Team USA Welcome Experience astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics connected Feb. 4.Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

National Team Director Phill Drobnick said Team Casper, and their comparatively young property will unfastened caller doors for the athletics successful the United States.

“These guys are young and they’ve sewage a batch of opportunities,” Drobnick said. “I’ve sewage to ideate moreover successful 2034 they’re still going to beryllium astatine their highest for the location Games successful Salt Lake City,” he added.

A dream that the squad could yet beryllium full-time master curlers.

“A batch of the group that we’re competing against are full-time athletes and training afloat time, and they’re connected the roadworthy afloat time, and curling is their job.”

Casper useful astatine a car dealership owned by a erstwhile Olympic curler.

“He benignant of helped maine retired and brought up moving wherever he works,” Casper said. “They’ve been awesome — really bully pinch clip off. I effort to do my portion while I’m gone connected the road, for illustration each of america do. They’re ace understanding.”

The elasticity has allowed Casper to hole for Milan Cortina.

“We look astatine it arsenic we’ve made it present for a reason, truthful there’s thing other that we request to beryllium doing,” Casper said.

Drobnick describes Casper arsenic a typical beingness connected the ice.

“He’s laid back, but he’s serious. When he gets connected the ice, he jokes and keeps things loose — but he’s a fierce competitor,” Drobnick said. “He wants to win. It’s a unsocial blend of that grind, that desire to propulsion the past changeable and travel retired connected top, while still keeping it ray and giving the squad what it needs,” he added.

U.S. Olympians Luc Violette, Benjamin Richardson, Rich Ruohonen, Danny Casper and Aidan Oldenburg of the men's curling squad be a Milan Cortina Olympics invited ceremonial Feb. 4.Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

Casper credits the team’s sweeping — led by Aidan Oldenburg and Ben Richardson — for allowing him to return large swings connected the sheet.

“They’re the logic why I’m good,” Casper said. “We’re comparatively fierce connected my shots, which are the past shots of each end. We for illustration to spell for it and we’re having nosy playing loose.”

“When I’m looking astatine them, I conscionable consciousness for illustration they’re successful full power of the shot, and I conscionable deliberation we’re going to make it each azygous time,” he said.