Curling is a sport played on ice, where teams slide heavy stones toward a target area. Each team consists of four players, and the objective is to get the stones as close as possible to the center of the target, called the "house." The team with the most stones closest to the center at the end of the game wins. Curling is unique for its strategy, skillful stone delivery, and the sweeping action used to influence the stone's speed and direction.
Curling was first included in the Olympic program at the Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924 as a medal event. It was included in a couple of Games as a demonstration sport after that, before later becoming recognized as an official event by the International Olympic Committee. The sport returned to the Olympic program at the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998 as a medal event for both men and women.
Curling’s inclusion in the Winter Olympics reflects its widespread popularity and rich tradition, especially in countries such as Canada, Sweden and Scotland. Its emphasis on teamwork, precision and strategy aligns well with the Olympic values of athletic excellence, and global competition.
The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 was a momentous year for Team USA. The men’s team won a gold medal, the first-ever Olympic curling gold for the U.S.
In the Olympic Games, curling features three events: men's, women's and mixed doubles. In each match, teams take turns sliding stones toward the house, aiming to position their stones closest to the center to score points. Men's and women's team competitions involve 10-end matches, while mixed doubles, introduced as a medal event at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, consists of teams of two players competing over eight ends. Each game typically lasts around two hours, with teams employing strategic play to outscore their opponents.
Follow along the figure skaters' road to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Check out all the events Team USA athletes will be competing in on the road to Milano Cortina 2026.
| name | sport | Education | hometown | age | Medals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alex Agre Sport: Curling Education: Henry Sibley High School Marquette University Hometown: St. Paul, MN Age: 36 | Curling | Henry Sibley High School Marquette University | St. Paul, MN | 36 | |||||
 | Curling | Broomall, PA | 38 | ||||||
 Sarah Anderson Sport: Curling Education: Marple Newtown High School (Newtown Square, Penn.) ’14 DeVry University Hometown: Broomall, PA Age: 30 | Curling | Marple Newtown High School (Newtown Square, Penn.) ’14 DeVry University | Broomall, PA | 30 | |||||
 | Curling | University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | 30 | |||||
 | Curling | RIT | West Henrietta, NY | 34 | |||||
 George Austin Sport: Curling Education: Purdue University; Indiana University Hometown: Bronxville, NY Age: 84 | Curling | Purdue University; Indiana University | Bronxville, NY | 84 | |||||
 | Curling | University of Minnesota-Duluth | Minneapolis, MN | 34 | |||||
 Scott Baird Olympian 2006 Sport: Curling Hometown: Bemidji, MN Age: 74 Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| Curling | Bemidji, MN | 74 | Number of olympic medals this Athlete has won
| |||||
 | Curling | Dickinson State University | Minnetrista, MN | 52 | |||||
 | Curling | Woodbury, MN | 25 | ||||||
The curling stone is made of granite, typically weighing between 38-44 pounds. It is carefully designed to slide smoothly on the ice and is a key piece of equipment in the game.
Curling is played on a rectangular sheet of ice, approximately 146-150 feet long and 14-16 feet wide. The surface is carefully maintained, with special preparation to ensure the ice allows for smooth stone travel.
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