Rich Ruohonen, the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian at 54, used his press conference at Cortina d’Ampezzo to condemn ICE operations in Minnesota, calling the actions unconstitutional. A personal injury lawyer and six-time Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year, Ruohonen emphasized the importance of constitutional rights and praised Minnesotans for standing up against federal overreach.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Rich Ruohonen, a personal injury lawyer at TSR Injury Law in Bloomington, Minnesota, is making headlines not only as the oldest athlete ever to represent the United States in a Winter Games at 54 years old, but also for his powerful statement condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in his home state of Minnesota. During a USA Curling press conference on Tuesday, Ruohonen, who is making his Olympic debut, seized the opportunity to address what he calls a constitutional crisis unfolding in his home state.
“I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA, and to represent our country. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it’s been for everybody,” Ruohonen said. “This stuff is happening right, right around where we live.”
Six of the 11 athletes on the USA Curling team are from Minnesota, a state where ICE agents have recently shot and killed two civilians: Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Ruohonen’s statement is a rare example of an Olympian using their platform to draw attention to domestic issues during an international competition.
‘There’s No Shades of Grey’: Ruohonen’s Constitutional Argument
Ruohonen, who has practiced law for decades, did not mince words. “I am a lawyer, as you know, and we have a constitution, and it allows us to (have) freedom of press, freedom of speech, protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, and makes it that we have to have probable cause to be pulled over,” he said. “And what’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of grey. It’s clear.”
His legal credentials lend weight to his argument. Ruohonen is a six-time Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year winner with a trial success rate exceeding 80%. He said Tuesday that he is currently on a streak of 27 consecutive trial victories.
Ruohonen’s statement comes at a time when Minnesota has seen widespread protests against ICE’s operations. Thousands of Minnesotans rallied in sub-zero temperatures last month to demand an end to the federal agency’s presence in their communities. This groundswell of activism has been met with solidarity from local leaders, including Minneapolis restaurant owner Tracy Wong, who sheltered protestors at her Vietnamese establishment, My Huong Kitchen. In addition, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, calling the surge of agents unlawful and unconstitutional.
The Minnesota Connection: A Team United
The U.S. curling team is heavily represented by Minnesotans, reflecting the state’s long-standing love affair with the sport. Besides Ruohonen, who is from Brooklyn Park, just 18 minutes north of Minneapolis, the team includes Aileen Geving and Cory Thiesse from Duluth, Aidan Oldenburg from Mapleton, and sisters Tara Peterson and Tabitha Peterson from Eagan.
Ruohonen, who has been curling since the fifth grade and has represented the U.S. in two world championships (2008, 2018), praised the resilience of Minnesotans. “I really love what’s been happening there now with people coming out, showing the love, the compassion, integrity, and respect for others that they don’t know, and helping them out,” he said. “And we love Minnesota for that.”
Olympic Values and Social Justice
Ruohonen closed his remarks by reiterating his commitment to the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship. “We are out here, we love our country. We’re playing for the U.S. We’re playing for Team USA,” he stated. “And we’re playing for each other, and we’re playing for our family and our friends that sacrificed so much to be here today. And that doesn’t change anything.”
“Because what the Olympics means is excellence, respect, friendship, and we all, I think, exemplify that. And we are playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values. That compassion, that love, and that respect.”
Ruohonen’s decision to use his Olympic platform to address social justice issues presents a powerful example of how athletes can leverage their visibility to draw attention to causes they deeply care about. His words reflect the sentiments of many Minnesotans who feel that the federal government’s actions have violated constitutional rights and undermined their community’s values.
A Career of Dedication and Persistence
Ruohonen’s remarkable story is one of dedication and resilience. He started curling on Saturday mornings at the St. Paul Curling Club in the fifth grade and has remained loyal to the sport throughout his life, except for a single season off to study law at Hamline Law School while recovering from a serious knee injury. His journey to the Olympics at 54 is a testament to his passion and perseverance, qualities that he brings both to the ice and to his legal practice.
His Olympic debut at such an advanced age is a rare feat in winter sports, where athletes typically peak in their 20s or early 30s. Ruohonen’s presence on the world stage is not just a personal triumph but a reminder of the importance of pushing boundaries, not just in sport but in advocacy as well.
As the curling competition progresses, the attention on Ruohonen will likely intensify, not just for his athletic performance but for his willingness to speak out on issues of justice and human rights. His words at the press conference are a challenge to all athletes, urging them to consider how they can use their visibility for greater good.
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