The Winter Olympics 2026 curling tournament saw a dramatic turn of events as the U.S. team secured their place in the semi-finals by defeating both Estonia and Sweden. After suffering back-to-back losses against Britain and the Republic of Korea, Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse rebounded strongly.
U.S. Curlers Bounce Back
In their first match of the day, the U.S. curlers faced Estonia. They marked their comeback with two single-point steals in the seventh and eighth ends, turning a 3-3 tie after six ends into their first victory. This success set the stage for a crucial match against Sweden.
Intense Match Against Sweden
The showdown against Sweden was filled with twists. The brother-sister duo of Isabella and Rasmus Wranå started strong, scoring three points right off the bat. However, Thiesse and Dropkin answered back, gaining three points of their own in the second end, leveling the score once more.
In the fourth end, Thiesse executed a remarkable raise to secure another three points, putting the U.S. ahead at 6-4. As the match progressed, Sweden fought back. They capitalized on their power play in the sixth end, scoring two points, and later stole another point, tying the game at 7-7 by the end of the seventh end.
Victory for the U.S.
With the advantage of the hammer in the final end, the U.S. maintained a strong position. Dropkin delivered an impressive runback double, eliminating two Swedish stones and ultimately leading the U.S. to victory.
“This is where we want to be,” Dropkin remarked after the match. “Our first goal was getting through the round robin and into the playoffs. We’re pleased with our progress.”
Sweden Secures Semi-Final Spot
Despite their loss to the U.S., Sweden clinched their semi-final berth earlier in the day with a narrow 7-6 victory over Canada, featuring curlers Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant. Rasmus Wranå expressed mixed emotions: “It’s a strange feeling to lose but still feel happy.”
- Rasmus Wranå praised the team’s performance throughout the tournament.
- Isabella Wranå highlighted crucial wins against Switzerland, Italy, and Canada as key to their qualification.
The upcoming matches promise to be thrilling as both the U.S. and Sweden look to compete for medals in the Winter Olympics 2026 curling events.
