CORTINA D'AMPEZZO - Amid the frosted mountains of Northern Italy in the tucked-away town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, American curler Korey Dropkin entered a local sandwich shop Friday, reflecting on his first Olympic experience.
Dropkin was just three days removed from earning a silver medal in mixed doubles curling when he caught up with Daily Universe Sports about what the moment meant, crediting his family and friends for sticking with him through it all.
“I wouldn’t be here without my family, my fiancée, and my friends,” Dropkin said. “They’ve been with me through the highs and the lowest of lows. It hasn’t always been success. Climbing the mountain to success comes with a lot of failure in the middle of it.”
The 30-year-old Massachusetts native, alongside his partner Cory Thiesse, became part of the first U.S. team to win an Olympic mixed doubles curling medal since the event was introduced at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
But this did not come without its share of challenges, as he did not get a chance to compete on the biggest stage until this month, 10 years after first appearing with the national curling team.
“I’ve lost a couple of trials finals on last rocks,” Dropkin said. “So having those people to lean on and reflect with helps a lot.”
Dropkin said he has been dreaming of competing in the Olympics since he was 10 and began to see it as a reality in 2015 when he won a U.S. mixed doubles national title with Sarah Anderson. He has since won three more national championships, the last two with current teammate Thiesse.
In the semifinals, the duo upset hometown favorites and defending gold medalists Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner of Italy, 9-8, to advance to the medal round, marking one of the biggest wins in U.S. mixed doubles history.
In a close battle, Sweden eventually took gold for the first time with a 6-5 win, leaving the Americans with silver but not taking away from what they had accomplished.
“For me, it was about making sure I enjoyed my time, had fun, stayed loose, and engaged with the crowd,” Dropkin said. “I wanted to show the world that curlers are elite athletes and that this sport is super fun. And I think I did that.”
In 2030, Dropkin and Thiesse will have their eyes set on the next opportunity to claim the United States’ first mixed doubles gold medal.
For now, Dropkin is enjoying the moment in the Dolomites cheering on his fellow athletes with his newly earned hardware.