U.S. Curlers Defeat Italy in Intense Mixed Doubles Semifinal

The United States’ curling team has achieved a remarkable victory, defeating Italy in a thrilling mixed doubles semifinal at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games.

U.S. Curlers Triumph Over Italy

Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse led the U.S. team to a narrow 9-8 win against the reigning Olympic and world champions, Italy, on Monday. This match ensures that Italy’s duo of Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini will miss out on the gold medal for the first time in their competitive history.

Final Matchup Emerging

With this win, the U.S. advances to face Sweden in the gold medal game. Sweden secured their spot by defeating Great Britain decisively with a score of 9-3. The final is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Semifinal Highlights

• Italy initially led the match 4-2 after three ends.
• Thiesse made a crucial three-point draw, allowing the U.S. to take a 5-4 lead going into halftime.
• Despite facing challenges, the American team managed to secure victory with a precise final throw by Dropkin.

The atmosphere at the Cortina Olympic Curling Centre was electric, with fans passionately supporting their teams, leading to chants of ‘Italia, Italia, Italia’ and ‘USA, USA, USA’ throughout the match.

Italy’s Reaction and Upcoming Bronze Match

Constantini acknowledged the U.S. team’s performance, suggesting that they capitalized on the opportunities provided. She emphasized the importance of recovering mentally for Italy’s upcoming bronze medal match, scheduled for 8:05 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Sweden’s Dominant Performance

In the other semifinal, Swedish siblings Isabella Wrana and Rasmus Wrana displayed impressive skills, overcoming Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds, who had a strong record entering the match. The Swedish team’s power play in the sixth end was pivotal in their victory.

Canada’s Final Efforts

Meanwhile, Canada’s duo of Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman wrapped up their Olympic journey with an 8-4 victory over Switzerland, finishing with a 4-5 record. Their final match highlighted their determination, despite being out of playoff contention.

Gallant expressed pride in their performance, emphasizing the importance of ending on a high note. Both teams will look forward to future competitions, as they aim to enhance their standings in upcoming events.