U.S. Curling Duo Reach Olympic Mixed Doubles Final

Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse guarantee first U.S. Olympic medal in the event.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. curling duo of Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse have advanced to the gold medal match of the Olympic mixed doubles curling competition in Milan Cortina, Italy. They defeated the reigning Olympic champions from Italy in a thrilling semifinal match, 9-8. Thiesse will become the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal. In the final, the U.S. will face off against Sweden's brother-sister team of Isabella and Rasmus Wrana, who upset the British favorites.

Why it matters

Curling has grown in popularity in the U.S. in recent years, and this is a major milestone for the sport's development in the country. The U.S. has never won an Olympic medal in mixed doubles curling, so this achievement represents a breakthrough for American curling on the global stage.

The details

Dropkin and Thiesse, competing in their first Olympics, secured the victory over Italy with a dramatic final shot that earned them two points. The Americans had lost to Italy earlier in the day, making their semifinal win an even sweeter accomplishment. In the other semifinal, the Swedish siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wrana cruised past the British duo of Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, 9-3.

  • The semifinal match between the U.S. and Italy took place on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • The gold medal match between the U.S. and Sweden is scheduled for later today.

The players

Korey Dropkin

A curler from Massachusetts competing in his first Olympics.

Cory Thiesse

Thiesse, from Duluth, Minnesota, is the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal.

Isabella Wrana

One half of the Swedish sibling duo that upset the British favorites to reach the gold medal match.

Rasmus Wrana

The brother of Isabella Wrana, the Swedish duo will compete for gold together.

Jennifer Dodds

One half of the British curling duo that was favored to win the gold medal but was upset in the semifinals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I bring out a little bit more energy than I probably should. You don't see football players, basketball players, baseball players always hiding their emotions. You know when they're pissed off and you know when they're having a good time. Why not curlers, too?”

— Korey Dropkin (newstribune.com)

“Just a dream week really.”

— Cory Thiesse (newstribune.com)

“We knew that we had to play our best game of the week to have a chance to beat Great Britain because they're so good.”

— Rasmus Wrana (newstribune.com)

“Mixed doubles, anything can happen.”

— Isabella Wrana (newstribune.com)

What’s next

The gold medal match between the U.S. and Sweden is scheduled for later today.

The takeaway

This historic achievement for the U.S. curling team, with Cory Thiesse becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal, represents a significant milestone for the sport's growth and popularity in the country. The Americans' run to the final has captivated fans and showcased the rising talent in U.S. curling.