Key Takeaways
- Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old curler from Minnesota, is set to become the oldest American to compete in the Winter Olympics if he participates in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
- Ruohonen is currently the oldest member of Team USA, having been named an alternate for the U.S. men’s curling team.
- Nick Baumgartner, a 44-year-old snowboarder from Michigan, is also competing for Team USA and will be the oldest athlete to do so if Ruohonen doesn’t compete.
- Several athletes over the age of 40 are competing for Team USA, including Ruohonen, Baumgartner, Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, Elana Meyers-Taylor, and Lindsey Vonn.
- Age is not a barrier for these athletes, who are proving that with dedication and hard work, it’s possible to compete at the highest level regardless of age.
Introduction to Age-Defying Athletes
Age is just a number, and several athletes on Team USA’s roster this year are proving that. Two Midwesterners, in particular, are going for something bigger. Rich Ruohonen, a 54-year-old curler from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, could break a record with his appearance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Ruohonen is currently the oldest member of Team USA, having been named an alternate for the U.S. men’s curling team. His selection is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport, which he has been playing since he was in fifth grade.
Ruohonen’s Journey to the Olympics
Ruohonen’s journey to the Olympics has been a long and winding one. He started curling in 1981 and has been a part of two world championship curling teams. He served as skip and led Team USA to the playoffs at the 2018 World Curling Championships in Las Vegas, where the team finished in sixth place. Ruohonen currently works as a personal injury attorney and is a partner at a law firm in Minnesota that specializes in representing victims of personal injury accidents. Despite his busy schedule, Ruohonen has managed to balance his work and athletic career, and his selection to Team USA is a dream come true. "I figured I’d get [to the Olympics] someday as a coach, maybe," Ruohonen told NBC Olympics. "But to get there, even if it is as an alternate, is just my dream."
Emotional Moment for Ruohonen
Ruohonen’s selection to Team USA was an emotional moment for him. He had thought that his competitive curling days were behind him, but the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics has given him a new lease on life. "It was really emotional for me because I thought it was over," Ruohonen said. "I thought I had retired, basically, and even though I’m not playing full-time or anything like that, I feel like I’m part of the team. Any way I can help, I’ve helped. Just to make it this time, I told my wife, it’s all worth it." Ruohonen’s passion and dedication to the sport are an inspiration to others, and his selection to Team USA is a testament to the fact that age is just a number.
Another Midwesterner Going for Gold
Another Midwesterner, 44-year-old snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, is also competing for Team USA. Baumgartner is going for his second gold medal, having won his first four years ago at the age of 40. He is currently the oldest snowboarder on the team by 14 years, but he doesn’t let that faze him. "I’m in a sport against children," Baumgartner told NBC News. "Snowboarding is dominated by youth, and to have a guy like me, the elder statesman, I love it, man. It makes me proud." Baumgartner’s confidence and experience will serve him well as he competes against younger athletes.
Other Age-Defying Athletes
Ruohonen and Baumgartner are not the only athletes over the age of 40 competing for Team USA. Other notable athletes include Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Elana Meyers-Taylor, both bobsledders, and 41-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn. These athletes are proving that with dedication and hard work, it’s possible to compete at the highest level regardless of age. They are an inspiration to others, and their selection to Team USA is a testament to the fact that age is just a number.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rich Ruohonen and Nick Baumgartner are two Midwesterners who are going for something bigger. Ruohonen’s selection to Team USA as an alternate for the U.S. men’s curling team is a dream come true, and he is set to become the oldest American to compete in the Winter Olympics if he participates in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Baumgartner, on the other hand, is going for his second gold medal in snowboarding. These athletes, along with others over the age of 40, are proving that age is just a number, and that with dedication and hard work, it’s possible to compete at the highest level regardless of age.
