The U.S men’s curling team took home a historic, first ever, Olympic gold on Saturday, and their surprise win got even more interesting after they realized they were given the wrong medals.
The mix-up happened when Joe Polo, John Landsteiner, Matt Hamilton, Tyler George, and John Shuster were all beaming as gold medals were placed around their necks.
However, all the men, except for one, were given medals for ‘women’s curling.’
Team USA shocked the world when they won 10-7 over Sweden, but it was only after the ceremony that they realized they had the wrong bling.
The U.S. men’s curling team made history on Saturday, when they won their nation’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport
Oops! John Landsteiner, Matt Hamilton, Tyler George, and John Shuster all received the gold medals for the women’s curling competition. Only alternate Joe Polo got the right medal
The only man on the team to get the correct medal was the alternate Polo.
The elated team took the flub in stride, however, and Shuster laughed it off during the Olympic press conference after the mix-up had been corrected.
‘It wasn’t a big deal at all, I promise,’ Shuster said.
The 35-year-old said after collecting his correct gold medal: ‘I think it’s a dream. I’ll wake up tomorrow and this might not be real… It’s just fantastic.’
The president’s daughter who has been playing America’s Olympic cheerleader high-fived spectators while watching John Shuster and his team win 10-7 against the Swedish word champions.
It is the first gold medal ever for men’s curling, and only the second time they took home a medal in US history.
At one point Ivanka was reading a booklet on curling, perhaps brushing up on the sport not often televised in the United States.
John Shuster, pictured celebrating the win, said that the medal mix-up was not a big deal
Team USA shocked the world, pulling off a 10-7 upset win against Sweden
Ivanka was in good company cheering the men’s team on. The gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden were also in the crowd inside the Gangneung Curling Centre.
The Americans had another notable fan, they received a good luck call from Mr. T before the match.
The actor Lawrence Tureaud called the team before they went into battle with Sweden to show his support.
Shuster, who had to lose weight to make the Olympic team, led his band of heroes to the winner’s podium with praise from Mr. T ringing in his ears.
The lack of pace and laid back approach to curling did not put the TV icon off and he Tweeted earlier in the competition: ‘You might not like it but you have to admit it; Curling is cool fool!’
The future of the women’s gold medal for curling will be decided Saturday night, when South Korea faces off against Sweden at 7pm U.S. time.
John Shuster, pictured celebrating the win, said after collecting his correct gold medal: ‘I think it’s a dream. I’ll wake up tomorrow and this might not be real… It’s just fantastic’
The president’s daughter Ivanka was cheering for Team USA when they took home the gold