Team USA’s mixed doubles curling team kept its perfect Olympic run intact Friday in Cortina, delivering two more commanding performances to improve to 4–0 at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
After knocking off previously unbeaten Canada in a statement victory, Americans Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin followed it up with a dominant win over Czechia to remain near the top of the standings heading into a highly anticipated showdown with Great Britain.
The United States opened Day 3 with a marquee matchup against rival Canada, which entered the session at 3–0 and sitting atop the standings. Canada stole a point in the opening end, but it would be the only time the Americans trailed.
Thiesse and Dropkin responded quickly, scoring two points in the second end and stealing another in the third to build a 3–1 advantage. Canada rallied to tie the match in the fourth and again at 4–4, setting up a pivotal seventh end.
That’s where Team USA seized control. Using their power play, the Americans executed one of their best sequences of the tournament. On the penultimate shot, Dropkin swept his own stone into a double takeout, clearing Canadian rocks from the house and setting up a scoring opportunity. After Canada removed one U.S. stone, Thiesse answered with a clutch takeout, giving the Americans three points in the seventh and a commanding lead.
In the final end, the U.S. defense made a comeback nearly impossible. With three guards protecting the house, Canada was forced into a difficult final shot and ultimately settled for one point, sealing a 7–5 American victory.
U.S. dominates Czechia in second match. The Americans carried that momentum into their second game of the day, overwhelming Czechia 8–1 in one of the most one-sided matches of the tournament.
After scoring one in the first end, the U.S. broke the game open in the second. Thiesse delivered a perfect freeze on Czechia’s only stone in the house, and a missed hammer attempt by the Czechs allowed the Americans to steal three points for a 4–0 lead.
The pressure never let up. Another missed Czech hammer in the third gave the U.S. a steal, and by the sixth end the Americans were comfortably ahead 6–1. Czechia’s final opportunity slipped away when Julie Zelingrova’s hammer attempt sailed past the house, allowing Team USA to steal two more points.
Czechia conceded the final ends, marking the United States’ first victory by concession in Cortina.
The numbers reflected the dominance: Cory Thiesse: 98% shot success rate. Team USA shooting: 90%, while Czechia was shooting: 65%
It was also the first time in the tournament the U.S. held an opponent under four points, highlighting the team’s growing defensive strength.
Perfect start sets up unbeaten showdown with the pair of victories Team USA improves to 4–0. Remaining one of just two unbeaten teams in Olympic mixed doubles curling competition. Their next test will be their toughest yet — a clash with the other undefeated team, Great Britain, scheduled for 8:35 a.m. ET on Saturday. Meanwhile, Czechia (0–4) will face South Korea.
Through four games, Thiesse and Dropkin have established themselves as serious gold-medal contenders, combining precise shot-making, aggressive strategy, and timely execution when matches hang in the balance.
