John Shuster clinches record-setting fourth U.S. men's Olympics curling team

OMAHA – He understood the history he could make, but that wasn't at the top of John Shuster's mind. The three-time Olympian, who would make it four in a row with a victory in Saturday's deciding game at the U.S. Olympic trials for curling, was thinking about much more than that.

Shuster lay in bed after losing the first game in the best-of-three playoffs at Baxter Arena, contemplating a life dedicated to curling and a team that had spent three years striving for this moment. "I was like, 'This is what I'm choosing to do with my life,' " he said. "My family and friends have put so much into this to make it possible. To go down without a fight is something I would never think of doing."

It required a fight to get past Heath McCormick, but Shuster pulled out a 7-5 victory in Game 3 to secure his place in February's Winter Games — and in Olympic history. The Chisholm native became the first American man to make four Olympic curling teams, scoring three points in the first end and staying a step ahead of McCormick through the rest of a taut game.

Shuster and his teammates — Tyler George and John Landsteiner of Duluth and Matt Hamilton of McFarland, Wis. — had to withstand a final bit of drama in a playoff series packed with it. Shuster's final rock nearly rolled out of the circles, but it stayed put to seal the deal.

"Pinch me," Shuster said, laughing. "This team is a special team. I have no other words.

"We lost that first game and put ourselves in a little bit of a hole. But the resiliency these guys showed, to come out and get a quick start [Saturday] and then hang on for dear life. [McCormick] gave us everything they had. I'm extremely proud of our team."

Reflecting on a 5-3 defeat in Thursday's Game 1, Shuster decided his team might have been too relaxed. He came up with a new plan for Friday: a trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, some TV time and a pot-roast dinner prepared by Hamilton. When his team returned to its high-scoring ways with a 9-4 triumph in Game 2, he orchestrated a similar agenda Saturday.

It got off to a similar start. Shuster secured a quick three points with his final rock in the first end, which proved critical. McCormick's tenacity earned two points in the second end, but neither team could score more than one point in any end after that.

"This was always the ultimate goal, and we knew we were capable of reaching it," George said. "I don't know if I've ever felt so fulfilled in my life."