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BEIJING: John Shuster gained’t be catching anybody abruptly at these Olympics.
The five-time Olympian is again to defend his curling gold medal in Beijing, and the goal on his again might be virtually as massive because the one on the ice. 4 years after surviving 5 straight elimination matches to win all of it in Pyeongchang the Individuals are among the many favorites to medal once more.
I undoubtedly really feel much less strain, Shuster mentioned after his victory within the U.S. curling trials. The success final time for me, successful an Olympic gold, is the highest of the mountain. And regardless of the way you end within the different Olympics, it doesnt matter.
I feel I really feel much less strain, he mentioned, however I feel I’ve supreme confidence.
Shuster gained bronze in 2006 because the lead for Pete Fenson’s crew the first-ever U.S. Olympic curling medal. Then he left to type his personal rink, incomes a visit to Vancouver however performing so badly that he benched himself.
After ending tenth in 2010 lifeless final Shuster gained the U.S. trials once more 4 years later however managed only a ninth place in Sochi. When USA Curling put collectively a excessive efficiency camp of the nation’s high 10 gamers, Shuster didn’t make the lower.
So probably the most adorned Olympian in American curling historical past scraped collectively a foursome calling themselves Crew Rejects and never solely beat the federation-backed squads within the U.S. trials however gained gold in Korea.
With 2018 teammates John Landsteiner and Matt Hamilton, and Olympic rookie Chris Plys, Shuster is hoping to keep away from the sluggish begins of earlier Winter Video games. Longtime curling powers Britain and Canada might be there in the event that they stumble.
BABY BUMP
Tabitha Peterson is heading to her second straight Olympics her first because the skip of the U.S. womens crew.
A Twin Cities native, Peterson threw third for Nina Roths crew in Pyeongchang. When Roth took maternity go away the next season, Peterson moved as much as skip, the crew captain who not solely throws the final and most necessary stones however can also be the ultimate phrase on technique all through the match.
It undoubtedly is completely different, simply when it comes to my function on the crew, Peterson mentioned. Ive needed to sort of rethink the way in which I feel the sport, my function, my method, my preparation. (And) what I do off the ice — theres extra strategic studying.
Roth is again at vice-skip, throwing third, with fellow 2018 holdover Becca Hamilton second. Olympic rookie Tara Peterson, Tabithas sister, is the lead, throwing first.
Its been superb, this group of women, Tabitha Peterson mentioned. Have been so comfortable to be going collectively, it doesn’t matter what our roles are.
The U.S. ladies have by no means gained an Olympic curling medal. They went 4-5 in 2018 and did not qualify for the playoffs.
DOUBLE DUTY
A handful of curlers might be among the many busiest athletes on the Olympics.
Plys will compete within the combined doubles occasion with companion Vicky Persinger earlier than turning his consideration to the boys’s match that means he may very well be on the ice for 18 days in a row, generally two classes per day.
Others doing double responsibility are Britain’s Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, Italy’s Amos Mosanser and Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson. (Norway’s Magnus Nedregotten is an alternate for the boys’s competitors; China and Canada have been nonetheless filling out their groups.)
BACK FOR MORE
Its not simply Shusters squad that’s making an attempt to repeat. All the medal-winning groups from Pyeongchang are again for one more attempt, with some minor shuffling within the lineups.
Within the mens discipline, Sochi bronze medalist and Pyeongchang runner-up Niklas Edin is again to finish his set of Olympic prizes. The Swiss crew skipped by Benot Schwarz that gained bronze in 2018 is again however with a brand new third, Sven Michel.
Anna Hasselborgs foursome will defend its Olympic championship within the womens division, and Japans Crew Fujisawa is again after successful bronze 4 years in the past. South Koreas Crew Kim, silver medalists at residence in Pyeongchang, is again, with Kim Cho-hi stepping in as second.
Canada’s Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris gained combined doubles gold in Korea — the one curling medal for powerhouse Canada in Korea — however the coed trials have been canceled due to the pandemic, delaying the choice of a crew for Beijing. Silver medalists Jenny Perret and Martin Rios of Switzerland and third place finishers Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten of Norway are additionally hoping to maneuver up the rostrum.
PANTSED
The Norwegian crew that grew to become a sensation for its psychedelic pants over the past three Olympiads has damaged up, depriving the curling discipline of a beloved dose of sartorial persona.
The one member of Crew Ulsrud, which gained a silver medal on the Vancouver Video games, who might be in Beijing is third Torger Nergrd. An alternate on the gold medal crew in Salt Lake Metropolis in 2002, he’ll return for a sixth straight Olympics, this time because the third for skip Steffen Walstad.
No phrase but on his pant plans.
WELCOME TO THE HOUSE
Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt certified for the combined doubles discipline, turning into the primary Olympic curlers in Australias historical past. The Czech Republic may even be making its debut with the combined pair of Zuzana Paulov and Tom Paul.
On the different finish are six nations that positioned groups in all three fields: Canada, the USA, Britain, Sweden, Switzerland and host China.
The U.S. and Canada have been in each curling discipline because the sport was added to the Olympic program in 1998 (for women and men) and 2018 (for combined doubles. However they missed out on the 1924 Video games, when mens curling made a one-time look earlier than being disregarded for the subsequent 74 years.
Britain and Sweden completed 1-2 within the 1924 Video games however every did not qualify for final years combined discipline.
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Extra AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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