The United States Olympic men’s curling team won the gold medal for the first time in U.S. history. Led by four-time Olympian John Shuster, Matt Hamilton, Tyler George, John Landsteiner and Joe Polo, Team USA defeated Sweden in the finals 10-7 to win the gold.
After losing four of their first six matches, the U.S rallied and won their final three round-robin matches earning a spot in the semifinals where they defeated Canada 5-3 and then Sweden to make history.
For Shuster, the fourth time was the charm. After three previous Olympic appearances he had only managed to win a bronze medal in the 2006 Games and was not even expected to participate in these Olympics.
Following a disappointing 2014 showing, he was not even invited to a combine set up by USA Curling. After this setback, he decided to go out on his own, bringing George, Landsteiner and Hamilton together to train in Duluth, Minnesota.
Each curler had their own underdog story and was similarly cast off by the country's official organizing body for the sport. Despite the odds, they had a comeback in the works.
The crew that was dubbed "Team Rejects" started to show in the lead-up to these Olympics that they could win. A strong season in 2015 prompted USA Curling to rethink their stance and, with the organization's backing, they went on to capture a bronze medal at the 2016 World Championship.
Shuster, George, Landsteiner, Hamilton and even team alternate Polo now get to reap the benefits of being Olympic gold medalists. They have appearances this week on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and TODAY.
Team USA will close the week by ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and then head to Annapolis, Maryland the following day to drop the puck prior to the NHL Stadium Series showdown between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals. They are some of the most relatable athletes and newest celebrities in America today and have become in-demand names for speaking engagements and appearances.
To inquire about John Shuster or other U.S. curling stars speaking fees and appearance costs, contact the agents at Athlete Speakers by calling us at 800-916-6008 or by Starting Your Booking Request Now.
U.S. Curling Team Interviewed on TODAY:
