Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The U.S. mixed doubles curling team secured a stunning 9-8 victory over host Italy Monday night, punching their ticket to the Olympic gold medal game and delivering a performance brimming with unexpected flair.
American Curlers Embrace the Moment, Channeling Iconic Sportsmanship
The U.S. duo’s energetic celebration after a crucial win has captivated fans and signaled a shift in the traditionally reserved sport of curling.
- Korey Dropkin’s exuberant reaction after the win drew comparisons to Hall of Fame bowler Pete Weber’s famous outburst.
- The American pair, comprised of Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse, are the first U.S. mixed doubles team to reach an Olympic final since the event’s debut in 2018.
- Thiesse is guaranteed to become the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in curling, regardless of Tuesday’s final outcome.
- Dropkin and Thiesse’s dynamic partnership, built on mutual respect and a shared love of the game, is driving their success.
Korey Dropkin’s post-game reaction at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium immediately evoked memories of Pete Weber, the bowling legend who went viral in 2012 after emphatically declaring “Who do you think you are?!! I am!!” following a championship strike. While Dropkin’s celebration was less vocal, it was no less impactful, signaling a welcome injection of energy into the typically stoic world of curling.
After teammate Cory Thiesse delivered the game-winning shot in the eighth and final end, Dropkin pumped his fists and waved his arms toward the cheering crowd. “How do you like that!” he exclaimed to a group of supporters, flexing an arm—a testament, perhaps, to the physical demands of sweeping. He then slid down the ice, spinning several times to acknowledge the American fans.
Dropkin readily admitted to savoring the moment. “That’s me,” he said after the match. “It’s childhood Korey that always had fun. You know, got up, swept his own rocks, did some spins and twirls on the way back to the hack as he threw another stone. And I don’t want to lose that feeling. I don’t want to forget who I am in that moment.”
A Shot at History: Facing Sweden in the Final
The American duo will face Sweden in Tuesday’s Olympic final, aiming to add to the U.S.’s curling legacy. The U.S. men’s team claimed gold eight years ago in PyeongChang. This semifinal victory guarantees Dropkin and Thiesse at least a silver medal, a historic achievement for American mixed doubles curling.
“I know how important it was for me to have people to look up to when I was growing up,” Thiesse said. “So I just hope that I can be kind of an inspiration for young girls in curling, or in any sport in the U.S., to just dream big.”
Dropkin selected Thiesse as his mixed doubles partner in April of 2022, recognizing her as the best shotmaker in the United States, and she proved his assessment correct on Monday night.
In mixed doubles curling, each team throws five stones per end, with the team possessing the last shot holding a significant advantage—known as the “hammer.” This allows them to strategically place their stones near the button, the center of the target, to score points while simultaneously removing opponents’ stones.
Italy held an 8-7 lead entering the final end, but the U.S. had the hammer. When Thiesse prepared for the final shot, an Italian stone was closest to the button. She could have played it safe, aiming to nudge her stone closer for a single point and a tie. Instead, she went for the win. Her stone not only eliminated the Italian stone but also subtly shifted another, leaving two U.S. stones closest to the button, securing two points and the victory.
A Clutch Performance and a Winning Partnership
Thiesse’s performance throughout the night earned high praise from Dropkin. “She’s like Kobe Bryant, Caitlin Clark, just draining them,” he said. “She’s clutch. One word. Clutch. That’s my teammate.”
Thiesse embraces Dropkin’s exuberance. “We’re at our best when both of our personalities are coming out,” she explained. “For me, it’s just kind of letting him do his thing and just doing my thing. And remaining calm and having this kind of quiet confidence about myself.”
“Typically, she reels me in a little bit,” Dropkin added. “She’s kind of just let me loose here.”
Their chemistry is clearly working in Cortina. And with a gold medal within reach, there’s no sign of them changing their approach. “It’s really cool,” Dropkin said. “Thanks, Cor.”
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