John Shuster’s team claimed a 7-5 victory over Heath McCormick’s side today to book their place at Pyeongchang 2018 as the US Olympic Curling Team Trials came to a close ©Rich Harmer/USA Curling

John Shuster’s team claimed a 7-5 victory over Heath McCormick’s side today to book their place at Pyeongchang 2018 as the US Olympic Curling Team Trials came to a close at the Baxter Arena in Nebraska in Omaha. 

The 35-year-old becomes the first American male curler to make it to a fourth Olympic Games.

He was part of the United States’ bronze medal-winning side at the Turin 2006 Olympics and skipped the country’s team at the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Games.

Joining Shuster in being nominated to the US team at Pyeongchang 2018 were Tyler George, Matt Hamilton and John Landsteiner, who was his team-mate at Sochi 2014.  

"This team is a special team," Shuster said.

"I just have no other words except that I’m really proud of the way they handled themselves.

"We lost that first game and dug ourselves a little bit of a hole.

"The resiliency that these guys showed was great.

"We had to get a quick start and hang on for dear life - because those guys gave us everything they had."

Joe Polo, who completed Shuster’s team in Nebraska, is also qualified to compete in next month’s 2018 US Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials along with Hamilton.

McCormick and team-mates Chris Plys, Korey Dropkin and Tom Howell won the first game in the best-of-three series on Thursday (November 16), but lost the next two.

Nina Roth's rink has qualified to compete in their first Olympic Games ©Rich Harmer/USA Curling
Nina Roth's rink has qualified to compete in their first Olympic Games ©Rich Harmer/USA Curling

With a 7-6 victory over Jamie Sinclair’s team, Nina Roth’s rink has also qualified to compete in their first Olympic Games.

Roth’s team, coached by Al Hackner, also featured Tabitha Peterson, Aileen Geving, and Becca Hamilton.

"It hasn’t quite hit me what it all means yet," the 29-year-old, who works as a registered nurse, said.

"It’s really awesome.

"We definitely earned this.

"We’ve been working so hard."

Sinclair, who shot 69 per cent today, was joined on her team by Alex Carlson, Vicky Persinger and Monica Walker.

Currently, Carlson and Persinger are qualified to compete in the 2018 US Olympic Mixed Doubles Team Trials.

Sinclair and Walker are still trying to qualify as three spots remain open for that event, which will take place in Blaine in Minnesota from December 13 to 17.

Roth, Peterson and Hamilton are all also qualified to compete in the Mixed Doubles Team Trials.

The alternates for both the men’s and the women’s teams will be announced within the coming 10 days, as per the 2018 US Olympic Curling Team Trials procedures.