Starting their 2018 Winter Olympics with just two wins from their first six matches, the United States men’s curling team was on the brink of elimination.
The U.S. team — made up of skip (team captain) John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton and John Landsteiner — would then defeat the three-time defending Olympic gold medalists Canada, Switzerland and Great Britain to qualify for the playoffs. The semifinal would feature a rematch with heavily-favored Canada but the U.S. defeated them again. And on Feb. 24, they completed their historic run defeating Sweden 10-7 in the finals to capture the United States’ very first Olympic curling gold medal and what some have dubbed the “Miracurl on Ice”. The team’s previous Olympic best was a bronze medal, also earned by the men, at Turin, Italy in 2006.
The most notable moment of their gold medal match occurred in the eighth end when the United States scored an impressive five points to break a 5-5 tie at the time.
Watch some of the best moments from the United States’ gold medal-winning performance:
HAMMER TIME!
John Shuster with the double to tie it up! https://t.co/crSmtNeRXW pic.twitter.com/thwidaBzQT
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 24, 2018
A double takeout by @MattJamilton makes the crowd go WILD ✌️ https://t.co/crSmtNeRXW pic.twitter.com/27rembMZkw
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 24, 2018
AND THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!@TeamShuster doubles their score on one throw in End 8! 😱 https://t.co/crSmtNeRXW pic.twitter.com/D6s4z1cMAl
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 24, 2018
A historic #gold medal for @TeamUSA!@TeamShuster brings home the first-ever gold medal in curling! https://t.co/crSmtNeRXW pic.twitter.com/fQGdBDIau6
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 24, 2018
Sing it loud & sing it proud, @TeamShuster! 😭 🇺🇸 🥇 pic.twitter.com/LwCmi3I8G9
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 24, 2018
LOL! @TeamUSA #Curling laughs as they tell me they were given the Women’s Gold Medals! They are happy to wait for the swap 😂 @usacurl #pyeongchang2018 pic.twitter.com/1eejzUN3pW
— Kenny Holmes (@KHOLMESlive) February 24, 2018
