Beyond Team USA’s play on the curling ice, fans have noticed something else about Team USA curler Matt Hamilton.
Hamilton is still sporting the mustache and Nikes he made famous during the team’s gold medal run at the 2018 Games, but this year he’s added some luscious locks to his look.
Hamilton’s hair has grown to shoulder length, and at times he’s even worn it in a man bun to match teammate Chris Plys, who is also a member of the “Long-hair-don’t-care” club.
But Hamilton didn’t grow his hair out just for looks. His locks are actually for a good cause.
The U.S. curler has been working with the organization StacheStrongsince 2018. StacheStrong is a nonprofit co-founded by GJ and Colin Gerner to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research. GJ battled Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, for 25 months his death in 2019.
StacheStrong boasts that the organization has raised over $1.2 million for brain cancer research and funded 10 research grants and clinical trials in 2021.
Hamilton has been partnering with the organization and growing his hair out long enough to one day cut it and donate it to a children’s wig foundation and raise money for StacheStrong.
In an Instagram video posted in December, Hamilton said: “Let be real, cancer has affected everybody. Whether its family, friends, yourself, it’s had an impact on pretty much everybody out there. So if you can find it in your heart to donate, I’m going to cut my hair in maybe some ridiculous ways and try to have some fun with it and we can beat cancer together.”
View social media post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrl7t_FElw/
During Team USA’s game against Canada on Saturday, curling clubs across the country began a Twitter campaign to drum up donations to Hamilton’s support page on the StacheStrong website.
View social media post: https://twitter.com/curlschenectady/status/1492670704130662405
View social media post: https://twitter.com/JerseyCurling/status/1492662086857547782
View social media post: https://twitter.com/RailCityCurling/status/1492659664076607488
As of Monday morning, Hamilton had surpassed his original $5,000 goal, with over $6,000 raised.
Hamilton took time during his stay in the Olympic Village to thank his curling fans across the country.
View social media post: https://twitter.com/MattJamilton/status/1492755434729578501
Matt Hamilton’s hair, mustache, shoes, and broom will be back on the ice with Team USA on Monday at 8:05 p.m. ET to take on Switzerland.
SEE MORE: Matt Hamilton rocks 'What the Paul' sneakers while curling in Olympics
