The United States mixed doubles curling team of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin improved to a perfect 4-0 record at the 2026 Winter Olympics by defeating Canada 7-5 and Czechia 8-1 on Friday in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The victories mark the best Olympic start for any U.S. curling team since the sport's addition in 1998. Rapper Snoop Dogg added excitement by attending the Canada match and interacting with the athletes.
Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin began Friday's round-robin play with a tense 7-5 victory over Canada's Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. The U.S. trailed 1-0 after the first end but responded with three points over the next two to lead 3-1. Canada tied the score at 3-3 in the fourth end with two points, and the teams exchanged singles in the fifth and sixth to reach 4-4. In the seventh, Dropkin executed a crucial double takeout during the U.S. power play, securing three points for a 7-4 advantage. Canada managed one more point in the eighth, but the Americans held on for the win.
"Fortunately, we just trusted that (the shot) was there, hit the stone exactly where we wanted to, and we were lying three afterwards," Dropkin said. "Got pretty fired up after that one."
The afternoon session brought an easier 8-1 win over Czechia's Vít Chabičovský and Julie Zelingrová, who conceded after the sixth end following a 4-0 U.S. lead after two ends and additional points thereafter.
Snoop Dogg, serving as an NBC correspondent and Team USA's honorary coach, watched from the stands next to Dropkin's mother, Shelley, wearing a custom jacket featuring the U.S. duo's faces. The athletes spotted him midway through the Canada match. "We kind of spotted him halfway through the game and saw his jacket that we were on, which was awesome," Thiesse said. "Yeah, just so cool to be able to meet him and to have him here, supporting us."
After the game, Snoop met Thiesse and Dropkin on the ice, joined by U.S. men's skip Danny Casper and women's skip Tabitha Peterson, who taught him curling basics. The team presented him with a "Coach Snoop" uniform, and he gifted them branded gear.
This 4-0 start surpasses previous U.S. mixed doubles performances: 2-5 in 2018 and 3-6 in 2022, neither advancing to playoffs. Great Britain leads at 5-0, setting up a key matchup for the U.S. on Saturday, followed by South Korea (0-4). Teams play nine round-robin games, with the top four advancing to playoffs.
