U.S. men's curlers apparently awarded women's gold medals after win over Sweden
Skip John Shuster and the men’s U.S. curling team had just delivered a stunning upset over reigning world champion Sweden to secure the country’s first-ever gold medal in the sport.
It was a cathartic moment for a team that was down and out in round-robin play after a 2-4 start and for Shuster, who was heaped with criticism after a disappointing showing in Sochi in 2014.
But after six straight wins, the frustration and disappointment that preceded their remarkable run made the moment for Team USA that much sweeter.
And then they were apparently given the wrong medals.
The US men's curling team just realized the gold medals they were awarded moments ago say "women's curling gold medal" on them. Their coaches are working on it … #pyeongchang2018 pic.twitter.com/PERIMuXN98
— Alyssa Roenigk (@alyroe) February 24, 2018
That’s ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk with the report that Shuster and Co. were holding the women’s gold medals slated for the winner of Sunday’s match between Sweden and South Korea.
USA #curling team making history today in Korea. First men’s winners to be given the women’s gold medals! What?!? #Pyeongyang2018 pic.twitter.com/3Hy5qbQHfk
— Laszlo Szele (@szele1) February 24, 2018
Alas, it was apparently an easy fix as NBC’s Kenny Holmes reports that it was just a matter of swapping out with the correct medals rather a case of missing gold.
LOL! @TeamUSA #Curling laughs as they tell me they were given the Women’s Gold Medals! They are happy to wait for the swap @usacurl #pyeongchang2018 pic.twitter.com/1eejzUN3pW
— Kenny Holmes (@KHOLMESlive) February 24, 2018
Thankfully somebody noticed in time before the Americans ended up back home with somebody else’s hardware instead of their own.
More Olympic coverage from Yahoo Sports:
• Watch: Shuster delivers best curling highlight you’ll ever see
• Canadian Olympian allegedly steals car in PyeongChang
• Figure skating star Rippon would ‘totally’ accept call from Pence
• Passan: Ledecka is the Olympics’ answer to Bo Jackson
• Does this photo finish show South Korean snowboarder losing?