Elite curlers use NFL training center to boost strength and performance for Milan Cortina Games.
EAGAN, Minn. — Members of the U.S. Curling team are training at the Minnesota Vikings’ Training Haus facility as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
The state-of-the-art center, typically reserved for professional football players, now hosts about 22 to 25 Olympic curlers, according to Mike Gulenchyn, sports science coordinator for USA Curling.
“The better we are in shape, the stronger we are, the better we can perform on the ice and within the sport,” Gulenchyn said.
Curling has evolved from its stereotype of beer-drinking athletes to a sport demanding high levels of fitness. Team members lift weights alongside NFL players, pushing themselves to match the intensity.
“They’ll be next to me and about to grab 100-pound dumbbells, and I’m like, maybe I’ll go up a little bit and grab a 50,” said Danny Casper of 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.