Elite curlers are enhancing their strength and performance at an NFL training facility as they gear up for the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
EAGAN, Minn. — The U.S. Curling team has taken their training to a new level by utilizing the Minnesota Vikings’ Training Haus, as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics hosted in Milan Cortina.
Typically dedicated to professional football athletes, this cutting-edge facility is now accommodating around 22 to 25 Olympic curlers, as shared by Mike Gulenchyn, the sports science coordinator for USA Curling.
“Being in top physical condition and increasing our strength directly enhances our performance on the ice,” Gulenchyn stated.
Once perceived as a leisurely sport, curling has transformed into a discipline requiring serious athleticism. The team members are lifting weights alongside NFL players, striving to meet the rigorous demands of their sport.
“I find myself next to someone picking up 100-pound dumbbells, and it encourages me to push harder, maybe reaching for the 50-pound ones,” remarked Danny Casper from the U.S. Curling team.
Taylor Anderson-Heide, a member of Team Peterson, noted the size difference between curlers and football players. “They are just giant. You just want to get out of their way so you don’t get run over,” she said.
The partnership between USA Curling and the Vikings began after the U.S. men’s team won its first Olympic gold medal in 2018, bringing new attention to the sport.
“Minnesota is the place to be. The Midwest is the place to be for curling,” said Jenna Burchesky, director of marketing at USA Curling. “For athletes who are trying to push to the next level, the resources out here are unmatched anywhere else.”
The United States has already secured spots for its men’s, women’s and mixed doubles teams for the 2026 Games.
