U.S. curling duo stuns Italy to reach Olympic final

Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin rally late to beat defending champions and set up gold-medal match against Sweden.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In a thrilling semifinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the American mixed doubles curling duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin came from behind to defeat the defending Olympic champions from Italy, Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, by a score of 9-8. The victory sets up a gold-medal match between the U.S. and Sweden on Tuesday.

Why it matters

The U.S. win over the Italian defending champions is a major upset in the Olympic curling tournament, as the Italians were heavily favored. The result also marks the first time the U.S. has reached the gold-medal match in mixed doubles curling at the Olympics, a significant achievement for the American team.

The details

Trailing 8-7 heading into the final end, Thiesse had a relatively straightforward takeout shot to score the two points needed for victory. Despite the high stakes, Thiesse, a lab technician by trade, calmly delivered the winning shot to seal the victory for the U.S. The match was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading points throughout. A controversial moment in the seventh end, where it appeared Dropkin may have touched one of his stones, added to the drama, but the Americans were able to overcome the challenge and advance to the final.

  • The semifinal match took place on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • The gold-medal match between the U.S. and Sweden is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The players

Cory Thiesse

An American curler who works as a lab technician and has been a key part of the U.S. mixed doubles team.

Korey Dropkin

Thiesse's American curling partner, known for his energetic and fiery on-ice demeanor.

Stefania Constantini

An Italian curler and the defending Olympic champion in mixed doubles, playing alongside her partner Amos Mosaner.

Amos Mosaner

Constantini's Italian curling partner and the defending Olympic champion in mixed doubles.

Isabella Wranå

One half of the Swedish sibling duo that defeated the British pair to advance to the gold-medal match against the U.S.

Rasmus Wranå

The other half of the Swedish sibling duo that defeated the British pair to advance to the gold-medal match against the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“Take your time.”

— Korey Dropkin

“Sometimes in mixed doubles it can be difficult. You can just be off by a few centimetres. But I'm very proud of how we came back into the tournament, and we're looking forward to the final.”

— Isabella Wranå

What’s next

The gold-medal match between the U.S. and Sweden is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The takeaway

The dramatic U.S. victory over the defending Olympic champions from Italy sets up an exciting gold-medal match between the American duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin and the Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, who have also impressed throughout the tournament.