American Curler's Emotional Journey Powers Team USA to Historic Olympic Final
In the picturesque setting of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, American curler Korey Dropkin has become an unexpected sensation at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His animated displays of emotion have captivated audiences throughout the mixed doubles competition, bringing a new level of excitement to the traditionally reserved sport of curling.
A Semifinal Victory for the History Books
On Monday, Dropkin and his doubles partner Cory Thiesse achieved what many considered impossible. They defeated reigning Olympic and world champions Italy in a thrilling 9-8 semifinal match at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. The victory was sealed with Dropkin screaming in excitement, embracing his teammate, and waving enthusiastically to cheering fans.
This monumental win guarantees the United States their first-ever Olympic medal in mixed doubles curling and sets up a gold-medal showdown against Sweden. The achievement marks a significant milestone for American curling, which has seen success in traditional team events but never before in the mixed doubles format at the Olympic level.
Living the Dream with Authentic Passion
When asked about his emotional displays throughout the tournament, a hoarse Dropkin explained his philosophy to reporters. "It's just me trying to be myself and live my dream, our dream on the ice," he said. "You don't really get these opportunities every day, right? It's every four years. Some people only get the opportunity to dream of it and we're out there on the ice living it."
Dropkin emphasized that his approach has always been about maintaining joy and authenticity. "For me, win or lose throughout this event, it's always just been about having fun, being loose, being myself and spinning on the ice, doing those little things, that's me," he continued. "That's childhood Korey that always had fun, 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."
Breaking Curling's Traditional Mold
Dropkin addressed questions about whether his emotional approach aligns with curling's typically restrained culture by drawing comparisons to other sports. "You don't see football players, basketball players, baseball players always hiding their emotions," he noted. "The TV's always on them. You know when they're pissed off and you know when they're having a good time. Why not curlers too?"
This perspective represents a potential shift in how curling athletes express themselves on the international stage, bringing the sport closer to the emotional transparency seen in other major athletic competitions.
Historic Achievement for American Women in Curling
For Cory Thiesse, the victory carries special historical significance. With this win, she becomes the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal. While American men's teams have previously claimed gold and bronze medals in traditional curling events, no American woman had achieved this milestone until now.
"I'm just so proud of the week that we've had," the 31-year-old curler shared. "And I know how important it was for me to have people to look up to when I was growing up. I just hope that I can be kind of an inspiration for young girls in curling and any sport in the U.S. to just dream big and work hard to achieve your goals."
The Road to Olympic Glory
The American duo's journey to the gold-medal game represents more than just athletic achievement. It showcases how authenticity and passion can elevate performance in high-pressure situations. Dropkin's willingness to express genuine emotion has not only energized his own performance but has also created a compelling narrative for curling fans worldwide.
As Team USA prepares to face Sweden for the gold medal, they carry with them the hopes of American curling enthusiasts and the knowledge that they have already made history. Their semifinal victory over Italy demonstrates that underdog stories still thrive in Olympic competition, and that sometimes, being true to oneself is the most powerful strategy of all.
The mixed doubles curling final promises to be a dramatic conclusion to what has already been a groundbreaking Olympic tournament for American curling, with Dropkin's emotional authenticity and Thiesse's historic achievement creating a memorable chapter in Winter Olympics history.
