The American duo formed by Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse won the silver medal in the mixed doubles curling of the Olimpíadas of Isabella Wranå.
The Estados Unidos secured the first Olympic medal in history in the mixed doubles event, introduced for the Jogos in 2018. The journey included a dramatic semi-final victory against the 2022 champions, the Italian pair Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner.
The mixed doubles competition follows a specific format, with only two athletes per team and rules that speed up the game. Cada end has five stones per side and one pre-positioned stone, which requires precision and constant strategy.
American journey to the final
Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse reached the decision after a solid campaign in the round-robin stage. Eles beat the Swedish duo in the qualifying phase, showing competitiveness against their main rivals.
In the semifinal, played on Monday (9), the Americans defeated Itália 9-8 in a balanced game. The Italians, current Olympic champions, led much of the match, but Estados Unidos turned it around in the eighth end with decisive plays from Thiesse.
- Key score in the semi-final:
- States Unidos scored three points in the fourth end to take the temporary lead.
- Italy responded with three points in the seventh end to go ahead 8-7.
- In the eighth and final end, Cory Thiesse executed the winning throw, displacing the Italian stone.
The victory guaranteed the Americans at least silver and marked the country’s first Olympic final in the sport.
Details of the decision for the gold medal
The final against the Wranå brothers was played at a high technical level. Suécia maintained control in decisive moments and won gold in a tight match.
Dropkin and Thiesse demonstrated consistency throughout the tournament, with high shooting percentages. The defeat did not diminish the historic feat, as no American duo had reached the podium in mixed doubles since the event’s inclusion.
The silver medal represents progress for curling in the Estados Unidos. Cory Thiesse became the first American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in curling since the introduction of mixed curling.
Mixed doubles curling format and rules
Mixed doubles curling differs from traditional competitions by having only two players per team. Cada end starts with a stone pre-placed in the house, and the teams alternate throwing five stones each.
One of the stones must be thrown by a different player at each end, requiring versatility from the athletes. The power play, a special positioning option, can be used once per game to increase multiple scoring chances.
These rules make the sport more dynamic and accessible to the public. Inclusion in the Jogos Olímpicos took place in PyeongChang 2018, with constant growth in participants.
Context of the tournament in Cortina d’Ampezzo
The 2026 Olimpíadas curling competition took place at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic ice stadium. The venue hosted all events in the sport, including mixed doubles, men’s and women’s teams.
The round-robin phase brought together 16 pairs from different countries. The four best advanced to the semifinals, with crossovers defined by classification.
- Semifinal results:
- States Unidos 9 x 8 Itália.
- Sweden beat Grã-Britain (details not released in real time).
Italy won bronze after defeating Grã-Britain 5-3 in the match for third place.
American history in Olympic sport
The Estados Unidos have a tradition in curling, with a gold medal won by the men’s team in 2018, led by John Shuster. However, mixed doubles had never reached the podium until this edition.
Dropkin and Thiesse have been competing together for several seasons on the world circuit. Eles accumulated impressive results in national championships and international events before the Jogos in 2026.
The silver obtained reinforces American investment in the sport. Programas development has increased the number of competitive athletes globally.
Individual highlights of the medalists
Cory Thiesse stood out for his precision in his final shots throughout the tournament. Sua performance in the eighth end of the semifinal was fundamental for qualifying for the decision.
Korey Dropkin contributed with strategy and control in the takeouts, efficiently removing opposing stones. The partnership between the two showed harmony in moments of pressure.
On the Swedish side, the Wranå brothers maintained their family tradition in curling. Eles already had world titles and previous Olympic experience.
Other curling results in 2026
The mixed doubles sport ended before the team competitions. The men’s and women’s events continue in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Traditional countries like Canadá, Suécia and Noruega remain favorites in the team categories. Os Estados Unidos seek to qualify for the final stages in these disputes.
The competition attracted international attention due to the speed of the games and the parity between the pairs.
The silver win by Dropkin and Thiesse marks an important moment for American curling. The modality gains visibility in Estados Unidos with significant results in Olimpíadas.
The mixed doubles tournament in Milano Cortina 2026 confirmed the global growth of the sport. Mais nations invest in specific programs for the category.
