Feb. 9 (UPI) — Cory Thiesse delivered a clutch final shot to seal a U.S. win over Italy and a 2026 Olympics gold match game ticket Monday in mixed doubles curling,
Thiesse teamed up with Korey Dropkin for the 9-8 win over Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, the defending gold medalists, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Thiesse and Dropkin are now guaranteed to become the first Americans to medal in mixed curling. They will take on Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranna in the gold medal match.
With Monday’s narrow win, Thiesse and Dropkin also avenged a loss to Constantini and Mosaner earlier in the day in round robin play.
ROLLING ON TO THE FINALS.
The moment Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin secured their spot in the mixed doubles curling final at the #WinterOlympics. pic.twitter.com/CFgfsM6412— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 9, 2026
“That’s the shot I’ve visualized in my head a million times,” Thiesse told Olympics.com, when asked about her semifinal-winning shot.
“I knew Korey was going to set me up to have a shot to win the game, so I was just thinking it through that entire end. And we had a great conversation about the weight and the line for the shot, and Korey said just get it close, and I’ll make it for you. So, I knew I was going to make it.”
The Wrannas beat Great Britain’s Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat 9-3 in the other mixed doubles curling semifinal Monday in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Team USA will take on Sweden in the finale at 12:05 p.m. EST Tuesday at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. The match will air on USA Network.
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