Team USA is going for gold in mixed doubles curling! Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin made history by winning the U.S. its first Olympic medal in this event with a thrilling 9-8 semifinal victory over Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. The match came down to the last shot. With the score close and the pressure on, Thiesse delivered a perfect stone that knocked Italy’s center stone out and pushed another toward the edge of the target. With Dropkin’s help, they clinched the win and advanced to the gold medal match.
After the victory, the duo celebrated with cheers and hugs. This is Thiesse’s second Olympic appearance; she previously competed in the 2018 PyeongChang Games, finishing eighth with the women’s team. For Dropkin, this is his first Olympic experience.
The pair has quickly built a strong partnership. They teamed up in 2022 and brought home the U.S.’s first world title in mixed doubles curling in 2023. Curling is a big part of both their lives. Dropkin grew up in a curling family, while Thiesse is the daughter of a former Team USA competitor and a two-time U.S. senior national champion.
Now, Thiesse and Dropkin are set to face Sweden in the Gold Medal Match on Tuesday at 12:05 PM EST. They’ve already secured a medal for Team USA, and a win would mark only the third time the U.S. has medaled in Olympic curling, and the first in mixed doubles. Let’s cheer them on for a historic finish!
