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Facing an elite 20-team international field in Fredericton, NB, Canada, at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin turned in a gritty performance to earn a berth for the United States in Cortina in 2026.
Teams accumulated points in both this event and the 2024 World Mixed Doubles Championship — the top eight countries are now in the Games while the final two berths will be determined at the Olympic Qualifying Event in December.
Thiesse/Dropkin, World Champions in 2023, won critical games in round-robin pool play and were one of six teams advance to the playoff round. In the first game of the playoffs, they faced Scotland, represented by Jennifer Dodds and 2026 World Men’s champion Bruce Mouat. After rallying from an early deficit, the duo from Duluth lost 7-5.
That left a must-win game against Canada — the combination of a victory for Thiesse/Dropkin and a loss by Australia (Tahli Gill, Dean Hewitt) against Scotland would secure a place for the United States in the Games. The Americans raced to an early lead against the Canadian team of Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, and cruised to an 8-4 win. Moments later, Scotland defeated the Australians, and Thiesse/Dropkin were officially Olympians.
After the game, Dropkin commented, “We did it! This was the goal when we formed as a team three years ago, and we are so grateful and so incredibly excited to be going to the Olympics! We can’t wait to represent the United States in Cortina. My childhood dream that I have worked so hard for and dedicated so much of my life to is finally coming to a reality, and it feels so incredibly rewarding.”
Thiesse added, “I’m so proud of the week we had here in Fredericton. It was such a strong field and we’re proud of the way we played against some of the best teams in the world. While we’re disappointed to have not finished on the podium, we are beyond thrilled to make the playoffs and secure our spot at the Olympics—it’s a dream come true for both of us. We work so hard for this, and it’s rewarding to see hard work pay off. We’re honored and excited to be representing the USA in Cortina.”
The pair, both veteran curlers with international experience, demonstrated resilience and synergy throughout the championship. Their performance builds on a growing momentum for USA Curling in international mixed doubles competition and sets the stage for the upcoming Olympic cycle.
USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell praised the team’s efforts, noting, “Cory and Korey delivered when it mattered most. The pressure at these events is intense, and they showed great resilience throughout the championship. They have proven they are a great Mixed Doubles team, and we are excited about their medal chances in Cortina.”
Thiesse represented the United States in Women’s play in the 2022 Olympics, but this marks her first appearance in the Mixed Doubles discipline. This will be the first time Dropkin is a part of Team USA at the Olympic Games.
