At the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games in mixed doubles curling made its Olympic debut. The event features teams made up of one male and one female competing together in a faster-paced version of the sport.
Curling is a Winter Olympic team sport played on ice in which athletes slide polished granite stones toward a circular target called the “house.” Teams earn points based on how close their stones land to the center of the target after each round, known as an “end.”
A traditional curling team includes four athletes:
Each player delivers stones while teammates sweep the ice in front of the moving stone to help control its speed and direction.
Curling originated in Scotland during the 16th century, making it one of the oldest team sports in the world. Initially played on frozen ponds with rocks and stones, curling, known as “the roaring game,” grew from rustic outdoor recreation into one of the most recognizable events of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Olympic success, televised Winter Games coverage, and local curling clubs across the country have helped increase interest in curling throughout the United States. Today, athletes of all ages participate recreationally and competitively nationwide.
Track and field includes a diverse range of events grouped into track, field, road, and combined disciplines.
Team USA has delivered some of the most memorable moments in Olympic curling history, including its dramatic gold medal victory at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
Curling athletes like John Shuster [insert link to new page], Matt Hamilton, and Debbie McCormick have paved the way for greater awareness and success for the United States in the sport.
One of the defining moments in U.S. curling competition came at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games. With John Shuster as skip, the U.S. men’s curling team (Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, and John Landsteiner) captured the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in curling.
After beginning the tournament with several losses, Team USA rallied late and upset Sweden in the gold-medal match. Their dramatic underdog run introduced millions of Americans to the excitement and strategy of Olympic curling.
Wheelchair curling first appeared at the Turin 2006 Winter Paralympic Games. The sport’s mixed-gender format also makes it unique among Winter Paralympic events.
Wheelchair curling is a Paralympic Winter sport in which athletes aim to place stones as close as possible to the center of the house while using strategy to block opponents and create scoring opportunities.
Teams typically consist of four players, and both men and women compete together in mixed-gender competition.
Athletes may deliver stones by hand or with a delivery stick attached to the stone handle.
Wheelchair curling was developed in the 1990s and quickly gained international popularity. Wheelchair curling highlights elite precision, teamwork, and adaptability on the world stage.
The sport provides athletes with disabilities the opportunity to compete at elite levels in one of the Winter Games’ most strategic sports. As participation expanded globally, wheelchair curling became a major addition to the Paralympic movement.
Team USA has continued to develop competitive wheelchair curling programs while representing the United States at the Paralympic Winter Games. Team USA curling athletes like Steve Emt and Patrick McDonald contributed to the growth of wheelchair curling in the United States.
From historic gold-medal moments to the growth of adaptive winter sports, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum celebrates the curling athletes and stories that helped shape Team USA’s curling and wheelchair curling legacy on the world stage.
Discover the history, athletes, and unforgettable moments that continue to inspire Olympic and Paralympic curling fans, and plan your visit to Colorado Springs’ premier sports attraction.
Curlers sweep the ice to help control the speed and direction of the stone by reducing the “friction” of the pebbled ice.
Olympic and Paralympic curling is scored using a point system. Points are awarded after each round, called an ‘end’, to the team with stones closest to the center of the target, known as the ‘button’. A team scores one point for every stone that is closer to the center than the opponent’s closest stone. The opposing team scores zero for that end.
Curling is called “the roaring game” because of the distinct rumble or “roar” the granite stones make when sliding over the ice.
On average, a curling stone weighs 42 pounds, but it can vary between 38 and 44 pounds. The weight also includes the curling handle and bolt.
A traditional curling game lasts approximately 2.5-3 hours, consisting of 10 ends in Olympic curling and 8 ends in Mixed Doubles and Wheelchair Curling. Each team gets one 60-second timeout per game.