Curlers will be sweeping at all hours

Double time

Mixed doubles will make its Games debut, followed on the ice at the Gangneung curling center by the more familiar, single-gender discipline.

The US was one of the few countries that allowed athletes who qualified in traditional curling to also try out in mixed.

That gives the Hamiltons an unprecedented chance to claim two curling medals at the same Winter Games. Or, if they falter in the mixed doubles, get a second chance to claim only the second Olympic curling medal in US history.

The Americans claimed bronze in Turin in 2006 with a foursome that includes current skip John Shuster.

"It's a great chance to throw rocks we're going to be playing," Shuster said.

"I'm sure it's going to be mentally daunting for them. But if he gets it rolling through mixed doubles, he's going to come into the men's team and not miss a beat."

Jenny Perret, who will compete in mixed doubles and also is an alternate on the Swiss women's team, is the only other curler working double duty.

Home ice

How big is the home-ice advantage in curling?

Shuster remembers going to his first Olympics in Italy, a country that like South Korea has very little curling tradition. After receiving a berth as the host nation, rather than the qualification process, skip Joel Retornaz led Italy to a 4-2 record in afternoon and evening matches "when they packed the place full of screaming Italians."

"The Koreans are certainly going to have that advantage," said Canada's Hebert, who rode the crowd enthusiasm to the top of the podium in 2010.

"To have the crowd behind your back - it was amazing to have hundreds of people you know there, plus all the Canadian fans cheering for you.

"It's no different than having the home-field advantage in football or hockey. You feed off of it."

While the South Korean teams would have been included as the host nation anyway, the women earned their spot by finishing eighth in the qualification standings. The Korean men were 15th for the 10-team field, and the mixed team was 10th in an eight-team field.

Associated Press