John Shuster
Curling
2006 Olympic bronze medalist
2010 Olympian
Personal Specs
Position: Skip
Teammates: Jason Smith, Jeff Isaacson, John Benton
Delivers: Right-handed
Curls out of: Duluth (Minn.) Curling Club
Year started curling: 1997
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 195 pounds
Short List Performance
- 2003 World Championships - eighth
- 2005 World Championships - sixth
- 2006 Olympic Winter Games bronze medalist
- 2006 World Championships - fourth
- 2009 World Championships - fifth (tied)
Vancouver Watch
Shuster was a part of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team, skipped by Pete Fenson, which won America's first Olympic curling medal. Now the skip of his own team, Shuster would like to not only lead the U.S. to a medal, but also to better that bronze showing from Torino. He is joined by vice skip Jason Smith, second Jeff Isaacson, lead John Benton and alternate Chris Plys. Together, they finished fifth at the 2009 World Championships, losing in a playoff to miss out on the medal round.
Personal
Shuster didn't start curling until 1997, but he quickly became one of the best in the fast-rising sport in the U.S. By 1999, he was the Minnesota State High School Curling Champion. He was a 2002 U.S. Junior Championships runner-up. He reached the top in 2003 as part of the U.S. Championship-winning rink.
His hobbies include fishing, hunting, fantasy football, golf and playing and coaching softball. He also wakeboards and has two dogs.
Did You Know...?
- Featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" in February 2004
- Nicknamed "Shoostie"
- Works as a bartender in Duluth, Minn., in the winters and on the grounds crew of a golf course in the summers
- Named freestyle aerials as the other Olympic sport he would like to try
Education: University of Minnesota-Duluth
Other sports: Baseball, golf, watching any sports on TV, fishing, hunting, fantasy football, wakeboarding, "Halo 2"
Other Olympic sport he'd like to try: Freestyle aerials
Hobbies: "Hunting, fishing, wakeboarding, fantasy football and raising our three dogs."
Curling start: "My dad curls, so when I decided to hang up the basketball shoes, I needed a new winter activity. I went down to the club on Junior Night and have been hooked ever since."
Training regimen: "I curl in three leagues a week and throw 50 rocks a day, followed by a game or two of cards."
What he enjoys most about curling: "I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, even at the highest levels of competition."
Curling family: "My dad, mom, sister and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins all participate in our holiday bonspiel [where] the Shuster family trophy is awarded."
Curling goals: "Curl in the Olympics and medal. Curl at World Championships and medal."
Favorite motivational quote: "Everything happens for a reason."
CURLING HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympic Winter Games: 2010, 2006 (bronze)
- U.S. Olympic Team Trials: 2009 (champion), 2005 (champion)
- U.S. National Championships: 2009 (champion), 2008 (6th), 2006 (champion), 2005 (champion), 2004 (runner-up), 2003 (champion)
- World Curling Championships: 2009, 2006 (4th), 2005 (6th), 2003 (8th)
- World University Games: 2007 (gold)
- World Curling Tour Players Championship: 2006 (quarterfinalist), 2005 (quarterfinalist)
- U.S. Men's Junior Nationals: 2004 (champion), 2002 (runner-up)
- Minnesota State Championships: 2003 (runner-up)
- Minnesota State Junior Championships: 2004 (champion), 2003 (runner-up), 2002 (champion)
- Minnesota State High School Curling Championships: 1999 (champion)
- John was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" section in February 2004.
- USA Curling Team of the Year: 2006
- U.S. Olympic Committee Team of the Year: 2006
Image by Harry How/Getty Images
