ST. PAUL, Minnesota — When Danny Casper prepares to throw, confidence takes over.
“I look to my right, look to my left and down the sheet, and I just think there’s no good reason that I should miss this shot,” he told NBC News.
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The 24-year-old skip of the U.S. men’s Olympic curling team is bringing his own flair as he competes in his first Winter Games. Casper is joined by teammates Luc Violette, Aidan Oldenburg, Ben Richardson, and alternate Rich Ruohonen — the oldest member of Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics and the oldest American ever to compete at the Winter Games.
Team Casper is 1-2 in the men’s curling round robin, defeating Czechia 8-7 on Wednesday before falling to Switzerland 8-3 on Thursday and Canada 6-3 on Friday.
Curling became an integral part of Casper’s life early on. His father signed him up for the sport when he was 12 and his family’s Olympic roots run deep. Carla Casper, his great aunt, competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in curling when it was a demonstration event, meaning it was played to promote the sport, rather than as part of the official medal competition. Her husband, Tom Casper, coached the U.S. men’s team at the 1998 Games, when it was permanently added as an official medal sport.
At 19, Casper moved to Minnesota to pursue the sport competitively.
“When everyone makes it to the higher levels, I don’t want to say you’re supposed to move to Minnesota, but maybe get the wink, wink, and are told it might be in your best interest to move out here.”
The journey paid off, now meeting his Olympic moment.
The team pulled off a massive upset against Team Shuster in the U.S. Team Trials in November. For 20 years, John Shuster ruled the nation’s sheets, making it to five straight Winter Olympics and skipping a squad that won the country’s lone gold medal in 2018.
“We were aware of what they’ve accomplished, and the respect is at an all-time high,” Casper said. “At the same time, them being our good friends, that was kind of a hard day.”
Team Casper later earned its spot at the Milan Cortina Olympics, with a qualifying win over China.
National Team Director Phill Drobnick said Team Casper, and their relatively young age will open new doors for the sport in the United States.
“These guys are young and they’ve got a lot of opportunities,” Drobnick said. “I’ve got to imagine even in 2034 they’re still going to be at their peak for the home Games in Salt Lake City,” he added.
A hope that the team can eventually be full-time professional curlers.
“A lot of the people that we’re competing against are full-time athletes and training full time, and they’re on the road full time, and curling is their job.”
Casper works at a car dealership owned by a former Olympic curler.
“He kind of helped me out and brought up working where he works,” Casper said. “They’ve been awesome — really good with time off. I try to do my part while I’m gone on the road, like all of us do. They’re super understanding.”
The flexibility has allowed Casper to prepare for Milan Cortina.
“We look at it as we’ve made it here for a reason, so there’s nothing extra that we need to be doing,” Casper said.
Drobnick describes Casper as a special presence on the ice.
“He’s laid back, but he’s serious. When he gets on the ice, he jokes and keeps things loose — but he’s a fierce competitor,” Drobnick said. “He wants to win. It’s a unique blend of that grind, that desire to throw the last shot and come out on top, while still keeping it light and giving the team what it needs,” he added.
Casper credits the team’s sweeping — led by Aidan Oldenburg and Ben Richardson — for allowing him to take big swings on the sheet.
“They’re the reason why I’m good,” Casper said. “We’re relatively aggressive on my shots, which are the last shots of each end. We like to go for it and we’re having fun playing loose.”
“When I’m looking at them, I just feel like they’re in total control of the shot, and I just think we’re going to make it every single time,” he said.