Sochi Olympics: Meet the Oldest Member of Team USA, Ann Swisshelm
The oldest member of the U.S. team says this is her last appearance.
Feb. 12, 2014— -- Name: Ann Swisshelm
Event: Women's curling. As her team's "lead," she throws the first two rocks, then sweeps the next six. (By the way, a curling team is called a "rink.")
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Hometown: Chicago
Stats: Swisshelm is 5' 9" tall, 150 pounds. At age 45, she is the oldest person of Team USA's 230 Olympic team members in 2014. (The youngest is freestyle skier Maggie Voisin, age 15.) Swisshelm has two teammates who are 40-years old, while the others are 39 and 29.
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Olympic record: This will be Swisshelm's second appearance at the Winter Olympics. Her team finished fourth at the 2002 Salt Lake City games. Swisshelm says that this will be her last appearance at the Olympics.
"It's time for the next generation," she told the Chicago Tribune in November.
Background: Swisshelm has been curling since she was 10 years old in 1980. She explains how she approaches the sport today.
"It's about paying attention to your body, training smarter because harder is not an option, and knowing that your mental game can best a younger opponent's physical one," Swisshelm said, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee website. "Also, my go-to recovery drink makes a difference – there's nothing like chocolate milk to help you feel like a kid."
Swisshelm and her team also know how to have fun. Last month, they posted a video on YouTube in which they wore animal costumes and sang, "What Does the Skip Say?," their rendition of "What Does the Fox Say?"
Donna de Varona, Olympic swimming gold medalist and the first president of the Women's Sport's Foundation, said curling is "more complex and technical than one would think."
"Therefore, experience and maturity are advantages, especially if one is flexible," the former ABC News and Sports broadcaster said.
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