US Curler's Red Headband Makes Him Olympics Breakout Star

Aidan Oldenburg is making curling cool, one red headband at a time.

The 24-year-old American curler has become an unlikely star at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, not just for his skills on the ice but for his flowing Rambo-style headband that's sparked a fan movement. Oldenburg and his teammates even created a signature celebration where they drag their fingers across their foreheads and point to the crowd after big shots.

Fans across the United States have started hosting watch parties where everyone wears red headbands in Oldenburg's honor. At the team's first match against Czechia, which the US won 8-7, spectators filled the arena sporting their own headbands in solidarity.

The headband started as a joke last August after Oldenburg's team was eliminated from a tournament. With two meaningless games left to play, he bought headbands for the whole team an hour and a half before their match. The reaction was mixed at first, but Oldenburg kept wearing his, and it became his lucky charm when Team Casper won the US Olympic trials and qualified for Italy.

Why This Inspires

Oldenburg's rise mirrors another bespectacled American athlete who captured hearts at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Stephen Nedoroscik, the gymnast known as "Pommel Horse Guy." The resemblance is uncanny, from their glasses to their mops of dark hair, and Nedoroscik himself sent Oldenburg a video message praising him as "such a cool, interesting dude."

Behind the headband is an environmental scientist who works on permitting for wind and solar projects. In his spare time, Oldenburg juggles machetes and flaming torches with his brother, and he's pretty skilled with a yoyo too.

But it's the headband that's given curling fans something special. Unlike major sports where fans can buy jerseys, curling gear isn't widely available. The headband gives people an easy, cheap way to show support and feel connected to the team.

As the muscly lead for Team Casper, Oldenburg does plenty of sweeping, which is hot, sweaty work. The headband serves a practical purpose too, keeping sweat out of his eyes while he whoops and hollers after big shots. His young team is bringing infectious energy to a sport that doesn't always get the spotlight, feeding off the crowd's excitement and giving it right back.

Nedoroscik even joked in his video message that if the curling team ever needs a plus one, they should reach out. For now, though, Oldenburg and his red headband are doing just fine bringing joy to the ice.