Korey Dropkin was in the middle of answering a question about newfound Olympic stardom when it happened in real time.
A fan approached him, visibly emotional, thanking him for the inspiration and asking for a photo. Dropkin immediately slipped off his silver medal from the 2026 Winter Olympics and handed it over so the fan could wear it for the picture.
“I better pull this medal out so you can hang it around your neck,” he said with a smile.
The interaction perfectly captured what life has looked like since Dropkin and mixed doubles partner Cory Thiesse won silver for Team USA in mixed doubles curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy.
For Dropkin, the medal is historic. But the journey to get there — and the experience of living it — may mean even more.
A Full-Circle Olympic Dream Decades in the Making
Dropkin’s Olympic story began long before he stepped onto the ice in Italy.
Growing up in Southborough, Massachusetts, he was raised in a curling family. His parents were deeply involved in the sport, and his older brother Stephen introduced him to competitive curling at a young age.
“It was almost like childcare for me,” Dropkin said of the local curling club. “It was like church. I spent so much time there.”
He followed his brother around the rink, watching from behind the glass and trying to replicate shots on adjacent sheets of ice. Curling quickly became more than a hobby.
As a junior competitor, Dropkin’s success accelerated. He and his brother competed internationally, placing fourth in 2010, finishing second in 2011, and winning Junior Nationals in 2012. That same year, Dropkin qualified for the Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria — his first taste of Olympic life.
“That’s when I thought, wow, I could actually be pretty good at this,” he said.
He relocated to Duluth, Minnesota, widely considered the epicenter of American curling, to train among the country’s best athletes.
“I decided I wanted to be the best in the sport and surround myself with the best,” Dropkin said.
The move paid off.
Twenty years after watching Team USA win bronze at the 2006 Winter
Olympics in Torino, Dropkin found himself back in Italy — this time as an Olympian.
“It’s a surreal full-circle moment,” he said.
The Fire and Ice Partnership With Cory Thiesse
Dropkin’s Olympic success is inseparable from his partnership with Cory Thiesse.
The two first met in 2011 at Junior Nationals. By 2012, both were junior national champions representing the United States at Junior Worlds in Sweden. Years later, after each had accomplished goals with previous teammates, Dropkin decided it was time for a change.
He asked Thiesse to team up in mixed doubles. She said yes immediately.
“I’ve always believed she’s the best women’s shot-maker in the United States,” Dropkin said. “There’s just this confidence about her. A swagger.”
That swagger, paired with Dropkin’s high-energy style, created a dynamic that teammates often describe as “fire and ice.”
“She’s calm, stoic, level-headed,” Dropkin explained. “I’m the fiery one, passionate, getting the crowd involved. We balance each other.”
The chemistry translated quickly to results. Within a year of forming their partnership, they won a national championship and then a world championship.
“That’s when we knew this was working,” Dropkin said.
In Cortina, that partnership carried them all the way to the Olympic podium.
Korey Dropkin Calls the Olympic Experience ‘Surreal’
While the silver medal is the headline, Dropkin says the overall Olympic experience has been unforgettable.
Upon arrival in Italy, Team USA athletes went through the official processing experience in Milan, receiving their Olympic gear from brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike and Skims.
“That was surreal,” Dropkin said. “Team USA makes that really special.”
The following morning in Cortina was equally powerful.
“When we walked outside and saw the mountains and the snow and the evergreens, it was incredible,” he said. “You’re surrounded by the greatest athletes in the world.”
He also praised the Italian hosts for their hospitality, even after Team USA eliminated Italy in the semifinals.
“Volunteers and athletes still came up to congratulate us,” Dropkin said. “They’ve done an amazing job hosting us.”
Dropkin plans to attend skeleton, bobsled and alpine skiing events — and to cheer on the men’s and women’s curling teams who supported him and Thiesse during their playoff run.
“It takes a village,” he said. “Corey and I didn’t get here alone. Our parents and families sacrificed so much.”
Teaching the Kelces About Curling
Part of curling’s recent spotlight included Dropkin and Thiesse teaching Kylie and Jason Kelce how to play.
“It means so much when athletes like that want to try our sport,” Dropkin said. “They were actually pretty good.”
He believes moments like that help grow the sport.
“When other athletes try curling, they realize how difficult it really is and how many layers there are to it,” he said.
He didn’t rule out a future rematch either.
“We joked about doing a two-on-two mixed doubles scrimmage — Cory and Korey versus Jason and Kylie,” he said with a laugh. “That would be fun.”
Korey Dropkin Reflects on Olympic Stardom, Silver Medal Run & Cory Thiesse Partnership (EXCLUSIVE)