Gold medal-winning Olympic curler George 'stepping away'

   STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) -- The U.S. men's curling team that won the gold medal at the Pyeongchang Olympics is shuffling its lineup after vice-skip Tyler George decided he wants to take a break from competing.

   The team led by John Shuster will replace George with 2010 Olympian Chris Plys. Joe Polo had been an alternate at this year's Winter Games, but he is scheduled for shoulder surgery.

   Shuster, George, Polo, John Landsteiner and Matt Hamilton earned the first Olympic curling gold medal in U.S. history when they rallied from the brink of pool play elimination to beat favored Canada and Sweden in the medal round.

   George, 35, says he's only taken one short break over the last 20 years and wants to "step away for a little bit and recharge the battery, let my body heal." He says he will continue to work to grow the sport.