U.S. Men’s Curling Team Go From Misfits to Olympic Champions by Nancy Dafoe

With so much profoundly upsetting news bombarding us every day, it is essential for our health and sense of balance to spotlight feel-good news. In case you haven’t already heard, the U.S. Men’s Curling Team – yes, the team self-named “The Misfits” – won the gold medal at the Olympics in PyeongChang. John Shuster and company are only the second U.S. men’s team to medal in curling (a bronze in 2006).

Their efforts were named the “Redemption Tour” by team skip John Shuster. Shuster, in particular, had labored in frustrating anonymity in the under-the-radar sport of curling for years. Interviewed in South Korea by sports journalist Nick Zaccardi before the games, Shuster stated, “I’m getting my heart broken by this sport. This is silly.”

Turns out, his heart has healed, and loving the sport of curling was not silly after all. John Shuster, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, Joe Polo and Tyler George made up the Olympic-winning team of misfits turned champions.

Congratulations!