Team USA Curling athletes will compete in uniforms designed by Portland-based Columbia Sportswear at the upcoming Winter Olympics. The partnership, established over a year ago, emphasizes performance and patriotic design elements. Curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, who recently qualified as a mixed pair, have praised the gear's fit and warmth.
Columbia Sportswear, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, announced its collaboration with Team USA Curling more than a year ago to outfit the athletes for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The designs include both competition uniforms and village wear, blending outdoor functionality with American symbolism.
Becca Johnson, who led the design team at Columbia, highlighted the focus on performance: “With these designs this year, what we really wanted to go after was the outdoor elements and kind of bring a little bit of America first and then a little bit of Columbia on ice for them to compete in.” She emphasized the significance of the project: “It’s huge because the Olympics is the pinnacle of these athletes’ careers. To get to have a piece of that, help them be comfortable in the outdoors, in the elements and compete and to get podium spots is just huge.”
The uniforms feature subtle patriotic touches, such as 250 stars embroidered to commemorate 250 years of American history. Inside the jackets, athletes can personalize a patch with their names and a motivational note. Designed for the demands of curling, the gear prioritizes durability, flexibility, and breathability.
Recently qualified mixed doubles curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin modeled the outfits. Dropkin noted, “Needing a flexible, very athletic fit and what they’ve done here is amazing.” Thiesse added, “I like warmth. The jackets that Columbia has created are very warm, but also like Korey said, form-fitting and breathable as well.”
This partnership underscores Columbia's commitment to supporting U.S. athletes on the global stage, ensuring they are equipped to perform at their best amid the cold, competitive environment of the Olympics.
