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, born on February 29, 1968, in Bemidji, Minnesota, is a famous American curler. He was the leader, or skip, of the men's curling team that played for the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics. His team made history by winning the bronze medal, which was the first Olympic medal for the United States in curling. Peter Fenson has won eight national championships, with his most recent win in Philadelphia in March 2014. He led his team to victory as skip in six of these championships.
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Peter Fenson's Curling Journey
Peter Fenson started curling when he was 13 years old. His father, Bob Fenson, was also a national champion in 1979 and later coached Peter's team. In 1993 and 1994, Peter played as the third on teams that won national championships. These teams, led by Scott Baird, reached the semifinals of the 1993 World Curling Championship and finished fifth in 1994.
Leading the Team to Victory
In 2003, Peter Fenson became the skip of his own team, winning the U.S. national championship. They then competed at the 2003 Ford World Curling Championship, finishing in eighth place. He also took part in the 2003 Continental Cup of Curling. After coming in second at the 2004 U.S. championships, Fenson's team won the national championship again in 2005.
At the 2005 World Championship, Fenson's team tied for first place in the first round. However, they were eliminated in a tie-breaker game against Olympic champions from Norway. Even so, their sixth-place finish was good enough to earn them a spot to represent the U.S. at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Olympic Bronze Medal Win
At the 2006 Olympics, Fenson's team had a strong record of 6 wins and 3 losses in the first part of the tournament. They only lost to teams from Italy, Finland, and Canada. This put them in a three-way tie for second place with Canada and Great Britain.
In the semifinal game, Fenson's team played against Brad Gushue's Canadian team and lost. However, two days later, they bounced back. They defeated David Murdoch's Great Britain team 8-6 in the bronze medal game. This exciting win secured the first-ever Olympic medal for the United States in curling! On January 16, 2007, the team was honored as the 2006 USOC Team of the Year.
Later Seasons and Championships
For the 2009-10 curling season, Peter Fenson's teammates were Shawn Rojeski (third), Joe Polo (second), and Tyler George (lead). Their previous lead, John Shuster, had left in 2006 to start his own team. Fenson's team won the 2010 USA National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
This victory allowed them to play for the U.S. at the 2010 World Championship in Cortina d'Ampezzo. They finished in 4th place after losing two playoff games to David Smith's team from Scotland. After this, Tyler George also left to form his own team.
With Ryan Brunt joining as the lead, Fenson and his team competed at the 2011 Continental Cup of Curling. There, Team North America beat Team World in a record-breaking performance. His team then went to the 2011 US Nationals. They had an amazing undefeated record of 9 wins and 0 losses in the first round.
Fenson's team then beat Tyler George in the playoffs and again in the finals to become the US champions for the second year in a row. This was his seventh US national championship. They represented the United States at the 2011 Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan, in April. The team started with a win against Denmark but then had several close losses. They finished in 10th place, which was their lowest finish at a world championship.
Recent Competitions
Fenson and his team did not make it to the playoffs in their first three events of the 2011–12 World Curling Tour season. However, they had better luck at the 2011 Laphroaig Scotch Open. They won the knockout round and defeated David Brown in the final to win the event.
Fenson's team was chosen to represent the United States at the 2012 USA-Brazil Challenge. This was a competition against Brazil for a spot in the World Championships, but Brazil withdrew. Fenson also played in the 2012 Continental Cup of Curling, where Team World narrowly beat Team North America.
At the 2012 United States Men's Curling Championship, Fenson's team had a 9-1 record in the first round. In the playoffs, they lost to Heath McCormick, but then won against former teammate John Shuster in the semifinal. In the final game, Fenson lost a close match to Heath McCormick. This meant he did not win his third national title in a row or get a chance to play at the world championships.
In 2013, Fenson and his team played at the 2013 United States Men's Curling Championship. They did not qualify for the playoffs, losing to McCormick in a tie-breaker.
After their semifinal win at the 2012 United States Men's Curling Championship, Fenson and his team qualified for the 2014 United States Olympic Curling Trials. They finished second in the first round and played John Shuster in the final. However, they lost after a tough third game. Peter Fenson later worked for NBC Sports as a curling expert during the Olympic games.
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 his teammate. Peter's son, Alex, is now a member of his team.
Peter Fenson 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
Peter Fenson has received several awards for his achievements in curling:
- 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
