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US Men Win First Olympic Gold Medal in Curling


Second Matt Hamilton of the U.S. delivers the stone, Feb. 24, 2018, in the men's curling final against Sweden in Gangneung, South Korea.
Second Matt Hamilton of the U.S. delivers the stone, Feb. 24, 2018, in the men's curling final against Sweden in Gangneung, South Korea.

The American men have won the Olympic gold medal in curling in a decisive upset of Sweden.

John Shuster skipped the United States to a 10-7 victory Saturday for the second curling medal in U.S. history. Shuster was part of the other one, too, as the lead thrower on Pete Fenson’s bronze-medal team at the 2006 Turin Games.

The Americans received a good luck call from Mr. T before the match. The King of Sweden was there, as was U.S. presidential daughter Ivanka Trump.

Skip John Shuster of the U.S. watches the shot as his teammates, lead John Landsteiner and second Matt Hamilton, sweep.The team won the first gold medal for curling in U.S history, Feb. 24, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea.
Skip John Shuster of the U.S. watches the shot as his teammates, lead John Landsteiner and second Matt Hamilton, sweep.The team won the first gold medal for curling in U.S history, Feb. 24, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea.

They saw Shuster convert a double-takeout for a five-ender in the eighth — an exceedingly rare score that made it 10-5 and essentially clinched the win.

Sweden retained the last-rock advantage known as the hammer for the ninth end, and scored two.

U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump holds Luke Shuster, son of skip John Shuster of the U.S., next to athletes Cory Christensen and Rebecca Hamilton during the men's final. The U.S. upset Sweden to win the gold.
U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter and senior White House adviser Ivanka Trump holds Luke Shuster, son of skip John Shuster of the U.S., next to athletes Cory Christensen and Rebecca Hamilton during the men's final. The U.S. upset Sweden to win the gold.

But that gave the hammer to the Americans for the 10th and final end. Shuster played it safe, throwing away one stone intentionally to keep the target area clear and avoid the traffic that can lead to big scores. The remaining rocks were used to methodically pick off Sweden’s until there weren’t enough left to catch up.

With two stones apiece left, Swedish skip Niklas Edin pushed off with a spin and a smile, and then conceded defeat. (Although Sweden had two stones in the house, the end does not count in the score).

Sweden is the reigning world champion silver medalist and finished first in pool play with a 7-2 record. The Americans barely squeaked into the playoffs with a 5-4 record after losing four of their first six games to move to the brink of elimination.

Second Matt Hamilton of the U.S. men's curling team reacts. The team upset Sweden to win the first gold medal for curling in U.S history, Feb. 24, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea.
Second Matt Hamilton of the U.S. men's curling team reacts. The team upset Sweden to win the first gold medal for curling in U.S history, Feb. 24, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea.

But Shuster, American curling’s only four-time Olympian, guided his team to three straight victories to advance to the playoffs and then a semifinal win over three-time defending gold medalist Canada. No U.S. curling team, men’s or women’s, had ever beaten Canada at the Olympics.

This year’s team — Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner and alternate Joe Polo — did it twice in one week.

Sweden took the silver medal. Switzerland beat Canada in the third-place game on Friday for bronze.

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