Americans Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin secured a place in the 2026 Olympic mixed doubles curling event after defeating Canada 8-4 at the world championships in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on Saturday. This victory secured a fifth-place finish adequate for qualifying for the Milan-Cortina Games.

“Although we’re disappointed not to have reached the podium, we are extremely thrilled to have made the playoffs and secured our spot at the Olympics!” Thiesse expressed. “It’s a dream come true for both of us.”

This will mark Dropkin’s first Olympic appearance, having been a runner-up to five-time Olympian and 2018 gold medalist John Shuster at the U.S. men’s trials for each of the past two Winter Games. Thiesse previously served as an alternate for Nina Roth’s women’s team in Pyeongchang in 2018.

“We work so hard for this, and it’s rewarding to see hard work pay off,” Thiesse said. “Honored and excited to be representing the USA in Cortina!”

Thiesse and Dropkin won the U.S. mixed doubles trials this winter to earn the right to represent the country at the world championships in Canada. But the Americans needed to finish at least fifth in Fredericton to qualify for the Olympics.

After beating Canada on Saturday, Thiesse and Dropkin had to wait out Scotland’s 9-6 win over Australia in another placement match to clinch a spot in Italy.

“It was such a strong field here and we’re proud of the way we played against some of the best teams in the world,” Thiesse said.

The U.S. Olympic trials for the men’s and women’s curling teams are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in November.