Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin are on the verge of making history at the 2026 Winter Olympics as they get ready to face Sweden in the mixed doubles curling final. Regardless of the final result, they will have a chance to set several records.
Thiesse and Dropkin have performed remarkably well at the 2026 Winter Olympics and continued their fine run of form on Monday by defeating Italy in the semifinals at the Stadio olimpico del ghiaccio. Now, an opportunity to make history beckons for the duo.
Who Are Team USA Curling Stars Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin?
Both Thiesse and Dropkin have more than a decade of professional curling experience under their belts. They started competing in mixed doubles together in 2022 and had instant success, winning gold at the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.
Since then, they have remained in contention at major events in a sport notoriously competitive. In addition to their curling training and events, Thiesse and Dropkin also maintain full-time jobs.
Per NBC, Thiesse is a lab technician at a wastewater testing lab, while Dropkin works as a realtor. They are based in Duluth, Minnesota, and compete at the Duluth Curling Club.
Dropkin grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and was born in a dedicated curling family. He started curling at age five and moved to Minnesota to pursue his passion for the sport.
“My mom and dad were pretty involved in our youth curling program… Growing up, I had an older brother, he’s very involved in curling too. He was competing and I was sort of like his shadow… Curling was like a religion to us in a way,” Dropkin said in an interview with 9News.
Thiesse started curling at the age of eight. Her mom competed competitively and is also her boss at her full-time job.
“My parents both curl so I just grew up at the [Duluth] curling club… It’s incredible. This is what we work towards every single day. This is what we’ve been dreaming of since we were little kids,” Thiesse told KARE 11 about her Olympic dream.
Thiesse and Dropkin Looking to Make History for Team USA
Thiesse and Dropkin will now have their sights set on making history with Team USA in the final of the mixed doubles curling event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. As they gear up to take on Sweden, they will have the opportunity to become the first American team to win a medal in the mixed doubles curling event.
Team USA has only won one gold medal in curling in the history of the Olympic Games. That came at the 2018 Winter Olympics, when John Shuster won gold in the men’s event.
The United States’ only other curling medal came at the 2006 Olympics, when the men’s team won bronze behind Canada and Finland.
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Regardless of the result of Tuesday’s final, the occasion will no doubt be a special one for Thiesse and Dropkin. And not just Duluth, Minnesota, but the entire United States will be cheering them on.
