NBCOlympics.com - Athletes - Pete Fenson (original) (raw)

Pete Fenson bio

Pete Fenson is the skip of the U.S. men's team that includes third Shawn Rojeski, second Joe Polo and lead John Shuster.

Torino update
Skip of the U.S. men's Curling team, lead his team to a bronze medal, defeating Britain 8-6. It is the first curling medal in U.S. Olympic history.

Career highlights
Fenson won the U.S. Trials in February 2005, which gave gave him a chance to qualify for the Olympics. He needed a good performance at the 2005 World Championships and got it, locking up the trip to Torino. At Worlds, the Americans were 8-3 and part of a six-way tie for first at the end of the preliminary round. In the tie-breaker, the U.S. drew reigning Olympic champion Norway (skipped by Paal Trulsen) and lost 10-6. Fenson is a four-time national champion; two of those wins came as a skip (2003 and 2005) and the others as a third (1993 and 1994). The 1993 and 1994 teams were skipped by Scott Baird, who is now Fenson's alternate.

Family tradition
Fenson's father, Bob, is a former national champion and competed at the world championships. He won the 1979 national title and finished fifth that year at Worlds. He is now the coach of Pete's team. "I love playing for my father," Pete says. "He's the reason that I'm playing at this level. I would never play for another coach. His love of the game is unmatched." Pete's younger brother, Eric, is also a competitive curler. Pete has two sons, Alex and Graem, who have been given sliders and brooms by their grandpa. "Every time Grandpa comes over, curling is all he talks about!" Alex once told Pete.

Pizza man
Fenson owns and operates Dave's Pizza, which is now a two-restaurant chain. The original is in Bemidji, Minn.; the other is about 100 miles away in Brainerd. He says it's difficult to be away from the stores during the winter when he's curling, but he trusts his staff to handle the operations while he's gone (watch video).

Personal
Off the ice and out of the kitchen, Fenson enjoys cycling, scuba diving, water skiing and pinball.