Massachusetts Athletes Poised for Olympic Glory

Cross-country skier, curler, and figure skater from Bay State aim for medals in Milan-Cortina

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Several Massachusetts athletes are set to compete for Olympic medals on Tuesday, including cross-country skier Julie Kern, curler Korey Dropkin, and figure skater Maxim Naumov. Kern made the finals in the women's sprint classic, Dropkin and his partner will compete for gold in mixed doubles curling, and Naumov will make his Olympic debut in the men's singles figure skating short program.

Why it matters

Massachusetts has a strong tradition of producing elite winter athletes, and these competitors represent the state's continued excellence in Olympic sports. Their success could inspire the next generation of Bay State athletes and bring national attention to the region's vibrant winter sports community.

The details

In cross-country skiing, Waltham native Julie Kern advanced to the finals of the women's sprint classic, overcoming challenging "slushy and deep snow" conditions in Italy. In curling, Southborough's Korey Dropkin and his partner Cory Thiesse will compete for the gold medal in mixed doubles after a thrilling semifinal win. And in figure skating, Norwood's Maxim Naumov, who lost both his parents in a tragic plane crash last year, will make his Olympic debut in the men's singles short program.

  • The women's cross-country skiing sprint classic finals took place this morning.
  • The mixed doubles curling gold medal match is scheduled for this afternoon.
  • Maxim Naumov is set to compete in the men's singles figure skating short program this afternoon.

The players

Julie Kern

A cross-country skier from Waltham, Massachusetts who advanced to the finals of the women's sprint classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Korey Dropkin

A curler from Southborough, Massachusetts who, along with his partner Cory Thiesse, will compete for the gold medal in mixed doubles curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Maxim Naumov

A figure skater from Norwood, Massachusetts who will make his Olympic debut in the men's singles short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, after losing both his parents in a tragic plane crash last year.

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What they’re saying

“This is what I grew up skiing on.”

— Julie Kern (WBUR)

“We're going for gold.”

— Korey Dropkin (WBUR)

“It's all about being resilient. I find in times of really difficult emotional stress, if you can just push yourself a little bit more, and almost think, 'What if? What if I can do it? What if, despite everything that happened to me, I can go out and do it?'”

— Maxim Naumov (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The mixed doubles curling gold medal match between Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse and Sweden is scheduled for this afternoon.

The takeaway

Massachusetts' Olympic athletes are showcasing the state's continued excellence in winter sports, inspiring the next generation of Bay State competitors and bringing national attention to the region's vibrant winter sports community.