Making your Olympic debut is a dream come true for athletes around the world, and US curler Korey Dropkin is no exception, telling CNN Sports back in October that “it means the world.”
The 2023 world mixed doubles champion said he “grew up at the curling club” where he followed his older brother’s footsteps before eventually surpassing him.
Dropkin – a realtor in Minnesota and Wisconsin by day – used the lessons of previously missing out on the Winter Games to make it to Milan.
“The big thing for me has been just working on my mind and working on the thoughts that happen between the ears while I’m in competition and trying to just focus on my process and doing me versus the things that I can’t control,” he said.
“If I can continue to do that and have a good energy on the ice, usually, I’m pretty successful.”
Helping Dropkin in the US’ quest for gold? His fellow 2023 world mixed doubles champion teammate Cory Thiesse, or “girl Cory” as their coach calls her.
“She’s an amazing teammate. She’s such a great curler, but just in general, a great human being,” Dropkin told CNN.
“She’s super kind, she’s very supportive. She’s got like that, the eye of the tiger. She is so clutch in the biggest moments and she’s always been that way.”
Given the duo sits in second place as of now and is qualified for the knockouts, American fans will be hoping Korey and Cory can channel the Italian Stallion’s energy from “Rocky III” to bring home the gold for the US.