USA curling mixed doubles beats Italy 9-8, advances to gold medal match

USA curling mixed doubles pulled off a stunning upset Monday night. Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse defeated defending Olympic champions Italy 9-8 in a riveting semifinal. The Americans clinched their first-ever medal in mixed doubles and earned a gold medal match against Sweden.

Dramatic Final Shots Send USA to Historic Olympic Final

Dropkin and Thiesse engineered a thrilling comeback. They scored five points in the final three ends. Thiesse, hailing from the curling powerhouse of Duluth, Minnesota, became the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in this event. The tension inside the Cortina Curling Stadium was electric as Italian fans held their breath.

The American pair hugged tightly after the final rock settled. Dropkin whooped and hollered, directing fist pumps toward a small pocket of USA-chanting supporters. The victory came just hours after Italy had defeated the Americans 7-6 in round-robin play.

Upsetting the Reigning Olympic Champions

Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner of Italy looked stunned. The defending champions had enjoyed raucous home support all week. Italian fans had been banging wooden bannisters and screaming “Italia! Italia! Italia!” throughout the Cortina Curling Stadium. That energy evaporated as the Americans mounted their comeback.

Dropkin said the victory felt perfect. “There’s no better way to make the Olympic final than to go through the reigning Olympic champions,” he stated. The Massachusetts native brings more visible energy than his teammate, celebrating every shot with genuine emotion.

The Road to Gold: USA vs Sweden Showdown

Team	Record	Key Players
USA	First-time Olympians	Dropkin, Thiesse
Sweden	Defeated Britain 9-3	Isabella and Rasmus Wrana

Sweden‘s Isabella and Rasmus Wrana, a brother-sister team, crushed Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat of Britain in just seven ends with a 9-3 blowout. The Swedes showed they can play at an elite level. Both USA and Sweden will battle Tuesday night at 12:05 p.m. ET, with the gold medal on the line.

“There’s no better way to make the Olympic final than to go through the reigning Olympic champions.”

— Korey Dropkin, USA Mixed Doubles Curler

Breaking Barriers and Making History

Cory Thiesse said the achievement felt “crazy.” She called it “just a dream week really.” The Minnesota native’s journey to the Olympic podium represents a breakthrough for American curling. Mixed doubles, requiring one woman and one man per team, had never produced an American medalist before this historic moment.

Dropkin defended his celebratory style. “You don’t see football players, basketball players, baseball players always hiding their emotions,” he explained. “You know when they’re pissed off and you know when they’re having a good time. Why not curlers, too?” His enthusiasm mirrors the passion dominating curling venues worldwide.

What Does Tuesday’s Gold Medal Match Hold for Team USA?

Sweden enters as a formidable opponent after decimating Britain in the semifinal. Rasmus Wrana said the Swedes knew they had to play their best game against the world-class British team. Isabella Wrana noted that “anything can happen” in mixed doubles, proving that momentum shifts rapidly.

For Dropkin and Thiesse, the gold medal represents redemption and validation. They came to Milano-Cortina as virtual unknowns competing in their first Olympics. Now they stand on the brink of Olympic glory. The match airs Tuesday on USA Network and Peacock, with the entire nation watching two underdogs chase Olympic gold.

Sources

• ESPN – U.S. reaches first Olympic curling mixed doubles final with 9-8 victory over defending champion Italy
• Olympics.com – Official Winter Olympics 2026 mixed doubles curling results and final standings
• NBC Sports – Team USA curling mixed doubles advances to gold medal match after dramatic semifinal