Team USA Secures Silver in Thrilling 2026 Winter Olympics Curling Final

Team USA recently marked a significant achievement in the mixed doubles curling event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing a silver medal after a thrilling final match. This close contest saw the American duo, Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse, face off against Sweden’s Rasmus and Isabella Wranå.

Thrilling Final Match

The final match was a nail-biter, ultimately concluding with a score of 6-5 in favor of Sweden. The Americans had opportunities to score early on but were unable to capitalize. During the seventh end, Thiesse struggled with her first throw, missing the house entirely while Team USA attempted to gain a two-point lead using a power play strategy.

Turning Points in the Game

• At the seventh end, Team USA was down 4-3.
• Dropkin made a crucial throw to clear Sweden’s threats, giving the Americans a 5-4 lead.
• In the eighth end, Dropkin’s final throw was too firm, allowing Sweden to regain the advantage.
• Thiesse’s final stone did not effectively clear Swedish guards, leading to the game-winning shot by Isabella Wranå.

Despite the loss, both athletes expressed pride in their performance. Dropkin noted the disappointment but acknowledged Sweden’s skill in the match. “Obviously would have loved to come home with a gold medal, but Sweden earned that,” he commented.

Path to the Medal

Team USA finished third in the round-robin standings with a 6-3 record. They advanced to the semifinals, where they narrowly defeated Italy with a score of 9-8. The American team entered the final as unexpected favorites after Sweden eliminated the favored British team in the semis.

Historic Achievement for American Women

This silver medal marks the third Olympic medal for a U.S. curling team, joining the bronze won by the men in 2006 and the gold achieved by Team Shuster in 2018. Notably, Thiesse’s accomplishment makes her the first American woman to earn a curling medal.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Thiesse reflected. “I’m really proud and honored to be standing up there and to use this to move women’s curling in the U.S. forward.” She expressed hope that her achievement would encourage more American women to pursue curling in the future.