Ruohonen’s road to the Games included stepping in for illness-ridden Danny Casper, staying on as an alternate, and finally getting subbed in to compete, fulfilling a decades-long dream.

Ruohonen’s inclusion exemplifies a bridge between generations in curling and contributes to the team’s Olympic qualification narrative.

In Cortina d’Ampezzo, Minnesota injury lawyer Rich Ruohonen, at 54, becomes the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian by competing in curling, marking a historic milestone.

Ruohonen broke a near-century record set by Joseph Savage, who was 52 during the 1932 Lake Placid Games in a different summer sport, surpassing that age mark in Olympic curling.

Casper and teammates praise Ruohonen’s leadership and influence on younger players, underscoring his role in bridging generations in the sport.

A correction was issued to fix the spelling of Ruohonen’s son’s first name, Nicholas.

Ruohonen called the Olympic moment the greatest day of his life, crediting his family’s support and framing it as the culmination of decades of perseverance.

The historic moment came late in the match, even though the U.S. team’s fate had largely been decided, underscoring the significance of Ruohonen’s milestone.

Readers are encouraged to follow ongoing Olympic coverage on People.com and NBC/Peacock for Milan-Cortina.”

A longtime curling competitor from Brooklyn Park and a two-time U.S. national champion, Ruohonen has competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials annually since 2006.

Casper’s team relies on Ruohonen as a mentor and elder figure, highlighting an intergenerational dynamic within the squad.

Casper’s illness ultimately led to Ruohonen serving as skipper and remaining on the team after Casper recovered, culminating in Ruohonen’s historic appearance.