Swedish Siblings Triumph, Claim Gold in Mixed Doubles Curling Over U.S. Team
In a thrilling conclusion to the mixed doubles curling event at the Winter Olympics, the Swedish siblings, Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, emerged victorious over the U.S. team, consisting of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin. This monumental match took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where the Wranås clinched the gold medal with a final score of 6-5.
Swedish Siblings Triumph in Mixed Doubles Curling
The Wranå siblings shared an emotional victory, marking a historic achievement as they became Sweden’s first brother-sister team to compete at the Olympics in this discipline. Their journey to gold was not without challenges; they faced a difficult start by losing their first three matches in the round-robin stages, leading to criticism from Swedish media, dubbing their performance a “Curlingfiasko.” However, the duo quickly regrouped, displaying resilience and skill to win their subsequent matches.
A Dramatic Championship Game
The championship game was a nail-biter, with the crowd deeply invested in the outcome. Isabella Wranå threw the decisive stone, watching intently as her brother swept, resulting in a captivated audience and a vital point. “It’s a perfect shot for me to have, a takeout,” Isabella reflected. “I felt like we kept calm.”
- Victory Score: 6-5 against U.S. team
- Historic Achievement: First Olympic gold for siblings in curling
- Starting Record: Lost first three matches
U.S. Team Makes History
The U.S. team made significant strides in mixed doubles curling as well, marking their place in Olympic history. Thiesse became the first American woman to medal in Olympic curling, a moment she described as inspiring for future generations. Both Thiesse and Dropkin have backgrounds in other professions; Thiesse works as a lab technician, while Dropkin is a real estate agent. Their partnership was born out of a shared ambition post the unsuccessful qualification for the Beijing 2022 Games.
Final Rankings
The competition concluded with Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner securing the bronze medal. They defeated the British team of Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat with a score of 5-3. This outcome was particularly poignant for the Italians, who had the home crowd cheering for them. The British duo had entered the round-robin with the strongest performance but faltered in the medal match.
- Bronze Medal Match: Italy vs. Britain, Score: 5-3
- Silver Medal Match: Sweden vs. USA, Score: 6-5
The achievements of both teams highlight the growing competitiveness of curling on the Olympic stage. With the closing of this event, the legacy of the Wranå siblings will inspire many in the sport for years to come.
