PYEONGCHANG –The United States men's curling team go into their Olympic final later Saturday in Pyeongchang with the encouragement of their biggest fan ringing in their ears – the curling-mad Mr. T.
Team USA play Sweden for the gold medal and retired wrestler Mr. T, who made his name playing big-hearted toughman B.A. Baracus in 1980s TV hit "The A-Team", will be cheering them on from his sofa with some iced tea in his hand.
The 2018 team are already the most successful US curling side in Olympic history, even if they lose the final and settle for silver.
That’s right US Men’s curling is about to battle Sweden for the gold! I repeat our team, my team, your team, the USA team. Is going for the Gold medal. @TeamShuster #TeamUSA #curlingiscoolfool
— Mr. T (@MrT) February 24, 2018
"I'm your biggest fan back here in the USA," the 65-year-old Mr. T, who also played boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film "Rocky III", told the US curlers, according to a video of the call posted on Twitter by the team.
Mr. T added: "I know what you are doing and I understand the athletic ability that it takes."
I predict PAIN for Sweden and victory for the USA! Yeah that’s what i’m talking about. We’re in it to win it fool! #curlingiscoolfool #TeamUSA
— Mr. T (@MrT) February 24, 2018
Tyler George, one of the Team USA curlers, later tweeted to say: "Huge thanks to unofficial team captain Mr. T for calling in for pep talk just now!!
"I'm ready to run through a wall."
Mr. T, with his gold chains and mohican haircut, has become an unlikely cheerleader for the unfashionable sport of curling, tweeting his love for the game throughout the fortnight of the Olympics.