Olympic Coach: How Curling Rivals Teach Unity

When Danny Casper's young curling team defeated Olympic gold medalists at the 2026 Winter Games trials, they crushed more than just their opponents' scores. They ended legends' careers and stole their final Olympic dream.

Team Shuster had made history as the first Americans to win curling gold in 2018. Some had already announced Milano-Cortina would be their last Games.

But seconds after their devastating loss, with heartbreak still fresh on their faces, Team Shuster walked across the ice. They embraced the young athletes who had just ended their dreams and promised to cheer them on at the Olympics.

Some even traveled to Italy to support them from the stands. Rivals became teammates in an instant.

Phill Drobnick, who just retired after 20 years coaching USA Curling, says that moment captures what makes the Olympics special. After coaching through four Olympic Games, including this year's competition in Italy, he watched this pattern repeat across every sport.

NHL rivals became brothers and won Olympic hockey gold together. Snowboarding star Chloe Kim celebrated South Korean Choi Gaon after losing the halfpipe gold to her. Three figure skaters formed such a close bond that media called them the "Blade Angels."

His constant message to teams was simple: one Team USA, no matter what.

Why This Inspires

Drobnick believes Minnesota desperately needs this Olympic spirit right now. He points to the recent murder of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and ICE conflicts in Minneapolis as signs that tribal politics have replaced teamwork.

The Eveleth native says Senator Amy Klobuchar models this unity by showing up equally in deep-blue urban centers and the rural Iron Range. She proves leaders don't have to pick sides to be effective.

In 20 years of coaching, Drobnick learned the most valuable person in any crisis isn't the loudest voice. It's the one with grit to find a path forward when others see only walls.

Every two years, the Olympics gives America permission to ignore partisan headlines and watch former rivals become teammates. Drobnick argues we don't need to wait for the next Games to embrace that spirit.

Minnesota can choose unity over division right now. The Olympic ice has already shown us how.