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By Liz Alper
Photo: John Shuster and Matt Hamilton of the United States look on during the game against Sweden during the Curling Men's Gold Medal game on day fifteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 24, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. Via Zimbio
February 23, 2018 (PyeonChang, South Korea) - It’s being called the Miracurl on Ice. The United States is curling crazy. And ECM’s sports writer just figured out how curling is played.
An American team went from 2-4 to 4-4 to gold medal winners. In a week.
Have you ever asked a co-worker "Hey, did you see that curling game?"
You will now.
Sweden took the 2-0 lead after two runs, but the U.S. came right back and tied it after the third run by knocking two of the Swedes’ rocks out of the house.
In the fourth run, Sweden called for a measurement when both a red and yellow rock were deemed too close to the bullseye. The yellow rock was closer.
And that’s how John Shuster’s team took their first lead in the men’s gold medal curling match.
But the Swedes took it right back on another double knockout to lead 4-3.
They just kept one-upping each other. The U.S. took two points in the sixth end to go up 5-4.
Sweden tied the game at five in the seventh run with hammer.
But it was the eighth run that solidified USA’s fate. Shuster knocked out five of Sweden’s rocks to take a commanding 10-5 lead.
Sweden added two in end nine to trail 10-7, but that was it. History was made. The United States combined team of John Shuster, Matt Hamilton, Tyler George and John Landsteiner won five straight matches, defeated a number one-ranked world power, all after being 2-4 to start the tournament, to become Olympic gold medalists in curling for the first time in American Olympic history.
Looks like we picked the right time to learn how curling works.
KYLE MACK TAKES SILVER IN BIG AIR
Photo, right: Kyle Mack of the United States celebrates after his run during the Men's Big Air Final Run 1 on day 15 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre on February 24, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Via Zimbio
In the debut of big air snowboarding at the Olympics, 20-year-old Kyle Mack made some history by becoming the first silver medalist in big air. Canada’s Sebastien Toutant became the first gold medalist and Britain’s Billy Morgan got the first bronze.
Mack scored a combined 168.75 on two runs.
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