Historic Victory: Thiesse and Dropkin Reach First US Mixed Doubles Olympic Final
Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin made U.S. Olympic history Monday by becoming the first American mixed doubles curling team to reach a gold medal match at the Winter Games. The duo defeated host nation Italy 9-8 in a thrilling semifinal at Milan Cortina, securing at minimum a silver medal—a first for Team USA in this event since mixed doubles curling was introduced to the Olympics in 2018.
Thiesse, a lab technician from Duluth, Minnesota, delivered the decisive final shot in the eighth end, clinching the victory as her partner Korey Dropkin and their coaching staff erupted in celebration. Dropkin, a Massachusetts-based realtor, watched from the sidelines as Thiesse executed the critical play that sent the Americans through to Tuesday’s gold medal match.
An Unlikely Path to Olympic Glory
What makes the pair’s achievement even more remarkable is their journey to this moment. Both athletes balanced rigorous Olympic training with demanding full-time jobs, a testament to their dedication and work ethic. Thiesse previously competed in women’s curling at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, finishing eighth with her team. This marks Dropkin’s first Olympic Games appearance.
The mixed doubles curling specialists earned their spot in the final after a strong round-robin performance, compiling a 6-3 record before facing Italy. Earlier in the tournament, Thiesse and Dropkin defeated several formidable opponents including Sweden, Estonia, and Canada, demonstrating their competitive prowess on the international stage.
Tomorrow’s Championship Showdown
The Americans will face Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wrana in Tuesday’s gold medal match at 12:05 p.m. ET. The Wrana siblings upset heavily favored British duo Jennifer Dodds and Brett Mouat 9-3 in the other semifinal, knocking out the tournament favorites and defending world champions.
Thiesse and Dropkin themselves are no strangers to world-class competition. They won the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Championship and have consistently competed at the highest levels of international curling. Their previous experience on the global stage appears to be paying dividends as they pursue Olympic gold.
“We knew that this was our game to win,” Thiesse said after the Italy victory. “We’re really proud of us. We’re just thrilled to be here, to be playing in front of this crowd and in front of our friends and family and people back home watching.”
USA Curling’s Breakthrough Moment
The advancement represents a significant milestone for USA Curling, elevating the sport’s profile in American sports culture. With guaranteed medals already secured, Thiesse and Dropkin will compete for the ultimate prize—Olympic gold—in what promises to be an exciting final match against the resilient Swedish team.
