MCFARLAND, Wis. (NBC 26) — Wisconsin curling siblings, Matt and Becca Hamilton begin their Winter Olympic Journey this week. Matt, 32, is seeking to recapture Olympic gold from the 2018 games, and Becca, 31, is hoping to medal for the first time. Both are making their second Olympic appearance.
NBC 26's Nina Sparano got a chance to speak with both of them before they left for China. The first question Nina had to ask: Is it Matt and Becca Hamilton or Becca and Matt?
"It's Becca and Matt. In my parent's eyes, it's Becca and Matt," says a laughing Matt Hamilton.
"In USA curling's eyes it's Matt and Becca," says Becca in rebuttal.
"She's a lot prettier than I am," retorts Matt.
Becca and Matt Hamilton appeared together over a Zoom call as they quarantine the day before their flight to Beijing for the Winter Olympic Games.
After making history in Pyeonchang as the first mix doubles Americans on USA curling and Matt, winning Gold with Team Shuster, America fell in love with this brother-sister duo.
"I think the fact that I'm kind of a goofball and she's more of a serious one," says Matt. "You can really see the brother-sister aspect during the game because I would play pranks on her and have some fun and joke.
"It's typical big brother little sister stuff," says Matt.
This time around, due to Covid restrictions, the Hamiltons will have one unique advantage.
"It's a big advantage, no one else really gets to have that. No one has family over there. I've got my sister," Matt adds.
"He helps me when I'm struggling on the ice or even when I'm playing well, he's my biggest motivator. So to have him in the room right next door to me will be great," says Becca.
"It's going to be nice to hang out and chat. Having a feeling of normalcy and home. It's tough to get homesick with my little sister here," Matt says as they both break into laughter.
Back in their hometown of McFarland, NBC 26's Nina Sparano got to see a mirror image of Matt and Becca's wise-cracking banter in their parents, Scott and Cathy Hamilton when Nina asked how Becca and Matt got into the sport of curling.
"Well we have different opinions on this," says Cathy Hamilton.
"I can tell you my opinion, then she can tell you her opinion," Scott Hamilton says as his wife sits next to him laughing. "But the fact of the matter is, Dad started curling in 1999-2000," he says.
Scott Hamiton describes the day he asked his teenage son, Matt to come and watch him practice at the Madison Curling Club, a local facility just minutes from their home.
"We were riding home and I said what did you think of curling? He said, 'I don't know, Dad, I think it's kind of dumb. And that was the start of that. And look what it's turned into,'" laughs Scott.
After some convincing to get him on the ice, Scott says Matt cook to curling like a fish takes the bait and Becca wasn't far behind. One year after Matt started curling, Becca took after her big brother and quickly picked up the sport.
The Madison curling club became their second home. Matt and Becca were known affectionately around town as the Madison ice rats. Now, they're Olympic heroes.
"Matt's had a really good run with the gold medal. But I don't know, they're still Matt and Becca to us. They're pretty humble kids," says Scott.
Since Matt's Gold medal in 2018, he's been on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Becca and Matt have both made multiple appearances on The Today Show, and they were even on the last season of The Voice.
When Matt returns from Beijing, he's starting a new 2-hour sports radio talk show on ESPN radio with Jim Rutledge from 2-4 pm. It will kick off as soon as he gets back from his Olympic publicity tour, should he medal in the Winter Games.
"For us, nothing changes. It's fun to watch them enjoy it and everything that goes with it," says Cathy.
After reaching the Ultimate dream in 2018 Matt says he isn't too focused on the pressure of recapturing gold.
"Obviously, the big goal is to medal and hopefully gold but primarily have a good time and enjoy the experience because not many people get it and this is our second time doing it. And that's pretty amazing," says Matt.
But in this family, more than gold, sibling rivalry may be the real objective.
"I'm going to need to medal keep my favorite Hamilton child status," Becca says.
"I don't think that would change. Even if I were to win another one (gold medal) And Becca doesn't win, I don't think she's going to lose her spot on the podium for favorite child and favorite Hamilton. She's too far ahead, Matt says as both siblings break out laughing.
Becca Hamilton begins her Olympic tournament series on Thursday (2/10.) The women's gold medal match is set for the 19th.
Team Shuster, Matt's curling team had their first tournament Wednesday. They beat the Russian Olympic Committee 6-5. If they advance to the gold medal game, it is set for February 19 which just happens to be Matt's 33rd birthday.
