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61-Year-Old Ice Rink Technician's Viral Moonwalk at Winter Olympics

BBC Sport •
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Mark Callan, a 61-year-old ice technician from Glasgow, has become an unexpected viral sensation at the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. The Scottish native, who works as a chief ice technician for World Curling, has been captured on video performing what social media users have dubbed a 'moonwalk' while preparing the curling rink. His distinctive backward shuffle, complete with a gravity-fed backpack spraying water droplets across the ice, has been shared widely across platforms.

Callan, who has attended four Winter Olympics, maintains a good-natured attitude about his newfound fame. 'All I'm doing is my job,' he told BBC Sport, noting that if his pebble-spraying routine brings smiles during challenging times, he's happy to be part of that. The Bishopbriggs native now lives in Copenhagen with his partner and two-year-old child, having discovered curling as a youth at Forest Hills rink in Aberfoyle, where he first became fascinated by the ice preparation process.

The Cortina Curling Stadium presents unique challenges for ice maintenance, having been converted from an ice hockey venue with its original 1956 Games features still intact. The venue's mix of modern renovations and historic elements, including wooden bleachers, creates a distinctive atmosphere that players and fans have embraced. Callan and his small team work diligently to maintain optimal ice conditions despite the venue's quirks, ensuring the sport's integrity while inadvertently providing entertainment for viewers worldwide.