U.S. Mixed Doubles Curling Team Makes Olympic History

Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin advance to the semifinals, a first for the United States

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, a mixed doubles curling team from the United States, have made history by becoming the first U.S. team to advance to the playoff round at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The pair, who were college classmates at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, overcame an early loss to Great Britain with a crucial win over Sweden on Sunday to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Why it matters

Curling has traditionally been a sport dominated by powerhouses like Canada and Norway, so the U.S. team's breakthrough performance is a significant milestone for the country's winter sports program. Their success could inspire more Americans to take up the sport and help grow its popularity domestically.

The details

Thiesse and Dropkin started the tournament 4-0 before suffering their first loss against Great Britain. They needed a big rebound on Sunday to advance, and they delivered with an 8-7 victory over Sweden. This marks the first time a U.S. mixed doubles curling team has made it to the playoff round at the Olympics.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
  • Thiesse and Dropkin's crucial win over Sweden occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Cory Thiesse

A member of the U.S. mixed doubles curling team who previously competed with John Shuster but did not qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Thiesse is married to someone else.

Korey Dropkin

Thiesse's partner on the U.S. mixed doubles curling team. Dropkin is currently engaged and was Thiesse's college classmate at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

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What they’re saying

“What an absolute THRILLER in Cortina! 🇺🇸🥌 Team USA just beat Sweden 8-7 in mixed doubles curling! Sweden came out firing — bump-and-roll takeout for 3 in the very first end. 3-0 down before most fans had settled in. But Cory Thiesse & Korey Dropkin? They weren't fazed.”

— Lenny (Twitter)

What’s next

Thiesse and Dropkin will face off against the winner of the quarterfinal match between China and Norway in the semifinals, with a chance to compete for an Olympic medal.

The takeaway

The success of Thiesse and Dropkin at the 2026 Winter Olympics represents a breakthrough moment for U.S. curling, demonstrating that American teams can compete with the best in the world and potentially inspire more people to take up the sport domestically.