Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has become the oldest person to compete for the United States at the Winter Olympics. He made his debut as an alternate for the US men's curling team during a match against Switzerland on Thursday, stepping onto the ice with the team trailing 8-2. Despite the scoreline, his shot drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
Ruohonen, a two-time national champion and six-time 'Minnesota Attorney of the Year,' had previously competed at two world championships but never reached the Olympics. He was brought onto the team as an alternate for skip Danny Casper, who has Guillain-Barré syndrome. Ruohonen has since taken on a mentorship role, driving younger teammates to practice and waking them for morning training sessions.
Off the ice, Ruohonen has drawn attention for speaking out against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Minnesota. At a news conference earlier this week, he said, 'What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of gray.' He emphasised the importance of constitutional rights and community values, adding that the Olympics represent 'excellence, respect, friendship.'
Ruohonen balances his Olympic duties with a demanding schedule, waking at 5 am three days a week to train before working full days at his law practice. He often handles court hearings via Zoom while travelling to curling tournaments. His teammates, despite teasing him on social media, have expressed deep appreciation for his guidance, with Casper jokingly noting that Ruohonen is available for legal advice.
