Pete Fenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter Fenson |
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| Born | February 29, 1968 Bemidji, Minnesota
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| Curling club | Bemidji CC, Bemidji, MN |
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| Career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member Association |  United States |
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| World Championship appearances |
8 (1993, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic appearances |
1 (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Peter Fenson was born on February 29, 1968, in Bemidji, Minnesota. He is a famous American curler. Peter was the skip (team leader) for the U.S. men's curling team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. His team won the bronze medal there. This was the first Olympic medal ever for the United States in curling! Peter has also won eight national championships in the U.S.
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Peter Fenson's Curling Career
Peter started playing curling when he was 13 years old. His father, Bob Fenson, was also a national champion in 1979. Bob later became Peter's team coach.
In 1993 and 1994, Peter was a "third" (a team position) on national champion teams. His team, led by Scott Baird, reached the semifinals of the 1993 World Curling Championship. They finished fifth in 1994.
Winning National and World Championships
In 2003, Peter led his team as "skip" to win the U.S. national championship. They then competed in the 2003 Ford World Curling Championship, finishing eighth. Peter also took part in the 2003 Continental Cup of Curling.
After coming in second at the 2004 U.S. championships, Peter's team won the national championship again in 2005. At the 2005 Ford World Men's Curling Championship, his team tied for first place in the first round. However, they were knocked out in a tie-breaker game against Norway. Even so, their sixth-place finish earned them a spot to represent the U.S. at the 2006 Winter Olympics. The Olympics were held in Turin, Italy.
Olympic Bronze Medal in 2006
At the 2006 Olympics, Peter's team had a strong record of 6 wins and 3 losses in the first round. They only lost to Italy, Finland, and Canada. This put them in a three-way tie for second place.
In the semifinal game, Peter's team played against Canada. They lost this game. However, two days later, they played against Great Britain for the bronze medal. Peter's team won 8–6! This victory secured the very first Olympic medal for American curling. Because of their amazing performance, the team was named the 2006 USOC Team of the Year.
Later Career and More Championships
For the 2009-10 curling season, Peter's teammates were Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, and Tyler George. Their previous lead player, John Shuster, had left to start his own team.
Peter won the 2010 United States Men's Curling Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This win allowed him to play for the U.S. at the 2010 Capital One World Men's Curling Championship. His team finished fourth after losing two playoff games to Scotland. After this, Tyler George also left to form his own team.
With Ryan Brunt joining as the lead player, Peter's team played in the 2011 Continental Cup of Curling. Team North America, which included Peter's team, won the event. Then, at the 2011 United States Men's Curling Championship, Peter's team had a perfect record of 9 wins and 0 losses. They won the finals, making Peter a U.S. champion for the seventh time!
His team then represented the U.S. at the 2011 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan. They started with a win but then had many close losses. They finished in 10th place, which was their lowest finish at a world championship.
In the 2011–12 World Curling Tour season, Peter's team won the 2011 Laphroaig Scotch Open. They were also chosen to play against Brazil for a spot in the World Championships, but Brazil pulled out. Peter also played in the 2012 Continental Cup of Curling, where Team World won.
At the 2012 United States Men's Curling Championship, Peter's team had a 9–1 record. They lost in the playoffs to Heath McCormick. They won their semifinal game against former teammate John Shuster. But in the final, they lost a close game to Heath McCormick again. This meant they didn't win their third national title in a row.
Peter and his team played at the 2013 United States Men's Curling Championship. They did not make it to the playoffs that year.
Olympic Trials and Broadcasting
After their semifinal win in 2012, Peter's team qualified for the 2014 United States Olympic Curling Trials. They finished second in the first round. In the final, they played against John Shuster's team and lost.
Peter later worked for NBC Sports as a curling expert during the Olympic games. He helped explain the sport to viewers.
Peter Fenson's Personal Life
Peter Fenson is married to Roxanne, and they have two sons, Alex and Graem. He enjoys playing golf, biking, and spending time with his family. His brother, Eric Fenson, is also a curler and used to be on Peter's team. Peter's son, Alex, is now a member of his team.
Peter has a college degree in technical illustration and graphic design. He owns a restaurant called Dave's Pizza in Bemidji, Minnesota. He also works as a coach for USA Curling.
Awards and Honors
- USA Curling Athlete of the Year: 2003, 2005, 2011
- USA Curling Team of the Year: 2006
- United States Olympic Committee Team of the Month: December 2005
- United States Olympic Committee Team of the Year: 2006
See also
In Spanish: Peter Fenson para niños
- Curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics
