Ford Long, a fifth grader at Meadowbrook School in Northbrook, had no idea the man he engaged in conversation at the Chicago Curling Club—Tyler George—was an Olympic gold medalist.

As they talked, Ford learned George was a former Olympic athlete. Ford asked if he won a medal and George asked if he wanted to see it. For a moment, Ford was in awe of the golden disk, then he asked if his friends could see it, too.

Ford brought Nathan Yehdego and William Chavez to view the medal, and teacher Audrey Cooke joined them. They were all in awe holding and viewing the medal George earned as part of the 2018 United States Olympic men’s curling team.

“I was stunned,” Ford said. “There was no way I’m seeing an Olympic gold medal. I was stunned he let me hold it. I couldn’t believe there was a gold medal here in Northbrook. I got to high five some of the (Chicago) Bulls once, but it was nothing like this.”

Ford Long, second from left, a fifth grader at Meadowbrook School in Northbrook, and Nathan Yehdego, also a Meadowbrook student, hold an Olympic gold medal won by Tyler George (at right) during the Olympic Celebration Tour Jan. 30, 2026 at Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook. (Steve Sadin/for Pioneer Press)

Ford was part of a group of approximately 60 Meadowbrook students participating in the Olympic Celebration Tour Friday at the Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook, meeting three former Olympians and getting a chance to take the ice in a sport they were learning at school.

Kevin Tibbles, a Highland Park resident and former NBC news correspondent who has covered the Olympics, said that with the XXV Olympic Winter Games starting Friday in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, the tour is an opportunity for people to learn more about curling.

“Every four years the interest in curling just skyrockets,” Tibbles said. “The people see it on television and get interested. They learn it is a lot more than sweeping, throwing stones and yelling.”

Former Olympians, from left, Karri Willms, Tyler George and Joni Cotton answer questions for fifth graders from Meadowbrook School in Northbrook during the Olympic Celebration Tour Jan. 30, 2026, at Chicago Curling Club in Northbrook. (Steve Sadin/for Pioneer Press)

Tibbles said among other things the tour—it lasted all day Friday in Northbrook—gave the Meadowbrook students a chance to experience the game on the ice at the club. They had
completed two weeks of a three-week curling unit in physical education class.

Tyler Tampier, a physical education teacher at Meadowbrook and a Chicago Curling Club member, said curling was a three-week unit in the curriculum this year. The students used actual
equipment but honed their skills on the gym’s wood floor. Friday was their first time on the ice.

“It gives the kids a chance to learn a sport they can use for their entire life,” Tampier said. “It’s unique and very engaging. It gives the kids a chance to be successful in PE.”

Ford, who plays baseball and football, said he liked the opportunity to curl on the ice rather than on the hardwood at school. The speed was a lot different, as they moved on the ice as if they were skating in gym shoes with rubber “grippers” attached for safety.

“It was amazing using the broom and sweeping,” Ford said.

As impressed as he was seeing and holding the gold medal, Ford was also thrilled to meet an Olympic athlete. He saw it as an unique athletic achievement.

“There’s nothing else like it,” Ford said.

Yehdego was as impressed with George’s athletic achievements as he was with the opportunity to see and hold the medal. He was glad Ford brought him to meet George.

“Wow, I really met an Olympian,” Yehdego said. “This is an amazing life experience. I got to hold
and feel the medal.”

Cooke said she, too, was pretty amazed seeing George’s medal. She not only liked getting a chance to see the prize, but enjoyed watching the three boys get an opportunity to have a
significant moment.

“It was fun to see it and watch the boys with all their excitement,” Cooke said.

In some ways George, who will do the color commentary during the television coverage of this year’s winter Olympics, is still in awe of his gold medal performance as part of the four-person
U.S. curling team eight years ago.

“It was the first time the U.S. won gold,” George said. “You don’t know what to think. It’s been eight years and it hasn’t sunk in completely. It was surreal. There were four people and we all did it together.”

George was not the only Olympian on the tour in Northbrook. He was joined by Karri Willms, who earned a bronze medal in the 1992 games competing on the Canadian team in Albertville, France.

Joni Cotten of Mount Prospect, a member of the 2002 American team, also spoke to the students.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/30/olympic-athletes-gold-medals-curling-northbrook/