With the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics underway, the U.S. men's curling team, led by skip Danny Casper, is on the hunt for a gold medal after enduring considerable difficulties.
The last two years have been a roller-coaster of emotions for Casper. In 2024, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare condition that affects nerves in the body.
His symptoms impacted his hands and legs, sidelining him from curling for much of last year.
"It's been a very challenging two years, I think it's been I got diagnosed with Guillain Barre, which is when your immune system attacks and destroys your nerves. It's been really hard," Casper said.
Thanks to physical therapy and medication, Casper returned to competition last year.
"It's still hard now. I still don't feel good, but I feel a lot better than I did. And I definitely won't be at 100 percent at the Olympics, but that's not going to be a reason why we succeed or don't succeed," he said.
With Olympic qualification on the line, the team had to compete at times without their captain. This meant that 54-year-old Rich Ruohonen would fill in when Casper couldn't play.
He then stayed on the team as an alternate and is now in line to become the oldest American to ever compete at the Winter Olympics.
"To be able to still play at this level at 54 and really help out in any way I can is phenomenal. It was my dream. It's everything I've worked for 30 years," said Ruohonen.
Despite the challenges, the team determined not to settle for anything less than the top place on the Olympic stage.
"We want to medal. We are going there to medal. We're not going to just be happy to be there," said Ruohonen.
"Every single day, in the shower, in the car, laying in bed, all I think about is winning the Olympics," said Casper.
US men's curling team overcomes challenges, chases gold at Winter Olympics
Chinese investments are bringing new development opportunities to Hauts-de-France, a traditional industrial region in northern France, as local governments actively attract Chinese new energy enterprises to participate in the region's industrial transformation.
The Hauts-de-France region was once home to Griset, a copper processing company with a history of over 260 years and a pillar of France's metallurgical industry. Faced with global competition and fluctuations in metal prices, the company teetered on the brink of bankruptcy until its acquisition by TNMG, China's leading copper producer, enabled it to rise from the ashes under the name TG Griset. "Today, we have achieved our production target of 7,000 tons per year. This is a remarkable change compared to when we started back in 2016, when a small team of just 12 people launched operations. Now we have 70 employees, along with new projects, development prospects, and a future strategy. The group has also provided us with investment support," said David Derache, general manager of TG Griset.
Located nearly equidistant between Paris and London, as well as nearby the industrial heartlands of Western Europe, Hauts-de-France enjoys huge geographical advantages and a solid foundation in the automotive industry, with carmakers like Renault and Stellantis present. Official data shows that the region has drawn nearly 50 Chinese enterprises to invest and establish operations across sectors including automotive, energy, and chemicals.
Leading the charge the promotion of the region is Nord France Invest, which offers support to international companies and investors seeking to expand in Hauts-de-France.
"We go on a regular basis in China to meet with Chinese groups and, once again, to explain where we are, what we do, and how we can help them choose our region and make sure that we are the hub for them in Europe and the best gateway for Chinese investment here," said Yann Pitollet, CEO of Nord France Invest.
Beyond capital, Hauts-de-France values China's strengths in the new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing sector, particularly in batteries and materials. For this traditional industrial region, attracting Chinese enterprises is not only about drawing investment but also about the electrification transformation and the future development of its automotive industry.
"The best-selling electric vehicle in France today is a Renault car -- the Renault 5. It uses Chinese batteries, and these batteries are produced right here in the Hauts-de-France region. These modern examples -- whether in electric vehicle batteries, related investments, or the development of port industries -- show that these new industrial developments are significant for regions like ours," said Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France Regional Council.
China-France cooperation powers transformation of traditional French industries
