The duo of Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse from the United States emerged victorious over the reigning Olympic and world champions Italy with a close 9-8 win in the mixed doubles semifinals at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. This sets them up for a final showdown against Sweden, who defeated a strong British team 9-3.
Dropkin and Thiesse’s hard-fought victory denied Italy’s Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini the chance to secure gold in their third competition together. The Americans, hailing from Massachusetts and Minnesota respectively, celebrated their win with enthusiasm, embracing tightly after the match.
Reflecting on their emotional display, Dropkin expressed his belief that showing emotions, much like athletes in other sports, is essential in curling. In the other semifinal, Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wrana, the 2024 world champions, outplayed the British pair of Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds, despite their strong performance in the round-robin stage.
The gold-medal match is scheduled for Tuesday, with Italy facing Britain in the bronze-medal match earlier in the day. Canada’s Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman concluded their disappointing Games with an 8-4 win over Switzerland. Italy briefly led the semifinal against the US, but a decisive move by Thiesse secured the lead for the American team.
The enthusiastic crowd at the Cortina Olympic Curling Centre, comprising mainly Italian and American supporters, added to the intense atmosphere with chants supporting their respective teams. Italy managed to take the lead heading into the final end, but the US team’s strategic play sealed the victory.
Looking ahead to the bronze-medal match, Constantini stressed the importance of mental readiness against the British team. Meanwhile, Sweden’s smart utilization of their power play allowed them to secure a comfortable lead over Britain, leading to their eventual victory. South Korea’s win over Canada sealed the fate of Gallant and Peterman, who finished out of playoff contention with a 4-5 record.
Despite their early victories, Canada faced a series of losses, ultimately missing out on the playoffs. Gallant and Peterman regained some pride with a solid win over Switzerland, showcasing improved performance. Canada’s coach commended their professionalism and determination, emphasizing the significance of finishing on a positive note.
In a similar fate, Switzerland also missed the playoffs, while Great Britain’s Mouat and Dodds topped the table with an impressive 8-1 record. Gallant will now shift focus to the men’s team event, reuniting with the Calgary-based squad. The women’s team will be led by Rachel Homan, with mixed doubles gold medalists Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris aiming to repeat their success from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
