It was the last end and the U.S. men were down 8-2 against Switzerland on Thursday in their first match of the men's curling round-robin. In other words, the stakes were low — and the time ripe — for a 54-year old personal injury lawyer and six-time winner of “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” to make Olympic history.

On Thursday, Ruohonen made Olympic history for the United States, etching his name in the record books when the U.S. faced Switzerland. He was inserted late in the game, and following his first stone throw, he officially became the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian of all time.

Personal injury lawyer Rich Ruohonen became the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian thanks to a late-game substitution in the men’s curling match against Switzerland. Team Casper was down 8-2 in their second game of round-robin play on Thursday with only a couple ends left in the match.

A two-time U.S. champion, Rich Ruohonen has been curling since the fifth grade, starting on a Saturday morning at the St. Paul Curling Club in Minnesota.

Team USA's curlers are trying to focus on the ice at the Winter Games in Italy, but one member from Minnesota says "what's going on there is wrong."

U.S. Olympic curler and lawyer Rich Ruohonen spoke out against ICE operations in Minnesota, citing constitutional concerns at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.