Move over Pommel Horse Guy: USA’s Curling Rambo becomes cult hero of Winter Olympics | Winter Olympics 2026

At Paris 2024, the United States had Pommel Horse Guy. During these Winter Olympics, the Americans have a new cult hero: Curling Rambo.

Aidan Oldenburg, a member of the United States men’s curling team, attracted attention for his glasses, thick hair and red bandana. His appeal as an unlikely hero has drawn comparisons to Stephen Nedoroscik, the bespectacled, Rubik’s Cube-solving American gymnastics hero who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics.

Like Nedoroscik, Oldenburg, 24, has hobbies outside of his sport. He is a keen juggler and has introduced machetes and flaming torches into his routine. His dream growing up was to become an environmental scientist rather than an Olympian, and he achieved both. His day job involves working on solar and wind projects after earning a bachelor’s degree in ecology.

He says he started wearing a bandana, similar to the one worn by Sylvester Stallone in the Rambo films, as “a bit of a joke” at a tournament last year.

“We had two games left to play,” he said. “I was like, let’s have some fun. So an hour and a half before our game, I was like, I’m going to go buy some headbands, I’m going to have everyone wear them.”

When Oldenburg’s team, led by Danny Casper, subsequently qualified for the Olympics, he decided the bandana was here to stay.

“No one else has the hair for this on our team,” Oldenburg said. “My hair used to be longer than that. It’s kind of utility and, honestly, it’s so hot in the arena that it helps keep the sweat out of my eyes.”

Fans also began wearing bandanas in homage to their new hero.

“They don’t have easy access to team uniforms and stuff like that,” Oldenburg said. “In other sports like football or baseball, you buy your favorite player’s uniform and wear it in the stands. The headband is pretty and it’s inexpensive. It’s pretty cool too.”

Nedoroscik also gave his approval.

“I just want to say that I came across your story,” Nedoroscik said in a video message he sent to Oldenburg, “and I thought you were such a cool and interesting guy.”

The U.S. men’s team won its first match of the tournament Wednesday against the Czech Republic but lost to Switzerland on Thursday.