A Massachusetts native took home a silver medal for the United States in mixed doubles curling Tuesday night at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Korey Dropkin won the silver alongside his partner Cory Thiesse.
They were bested by siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, who won a gold medal for Sweden.
Dropkin and Thiesse are the first U.S. team to ever win an Olympic medal in the event, and Thiesse is the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in curling.
After getting their medals, Thiesse and Dropkin shared the news with their families over FaceTime. And in an interview with NBC, Dropkin reflected on his incredible week in Italy.
“I’ve got the best team that I could ever ask for,” said Dropkin. “We’ve got the best coaches and it’s been a special week that we’ve been able to share. Thank you to everyone back home watching, all around the U.S., around the world. Hopefully, we were able to touch some young kids out there to start dreaming big and believing in themselves. It all darts by believing in yourself.”
Dropkin and Thiesse were classmates in college and are currently based in Duluth, Minn. But back in Massachusetts, crowds were cheering for Dropkin, who was raised in Southborough.
At the age of 5, Dropkin started curling on the junior team run by his parents at Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, Mass. Broomstones’ president Rich Collier remembers those days well, and even beat Dropkin once or twice in his pre-Olympic days.
“It’s incredibly fascinating to see the trajectory of a scrappy little kid growing up in the club with obvious big dreams of professional curling,” said Collier. “But making it all the way to the Olympics, getting to the podium, they won the silver medal today. Just an amazing journey.”
Broomstones hosted about 60 members Tuesday to watch the game and root for Dropkin from a continent away.
“We had the game up on the projector, and we were cheering on literally every single shot,” said Collier. “It was quite an experience to have that sort of community and camaraderie with the members of the club. It was great.”
Dropkin’s path to the Olympics included some bumps, but after eight years of near-misses at the U.S. Olympic Trials, he finally qualified. Collier says he’s proud of the Broomstones’ alum.
“It’s a testament to so many different things. Perseverance, courage, dedication,” said Collier. “All the things that ultimately make an athlete, or an Olympian. That’s exactly what it takes.”
