From Collapse to Gold: Stories from Olympic Mixed Doubles 2026

I am glad that I don’t bet online. Otherwise, the losses would have been total in this tournament.

Now that we all know the results, let’s focus on the positives. Every competing athlete brought something valuable to our sport. I didn’t manage to watch every single game, but here are some highlights that stayed with me. 

In some teams, one player naturally stood out more in my personal viewing experience – but none of this would have been possible without strong partnerships.

Gold: Wranå Siblings (Sweden)

They work together with remarkable fluency. No arguing, no blaming, no bad looks, no complaining – just mutual support and space for each other in difficult moments. Their parents have done an excellent job. I know other sibling teams who slowly destroy their own performance by feeding each other’s frustration. Nothing like that was visible in the Wranå family.

They did face a dramatic collapse mid-tournament. Against Estonia, they missed a six-point opportunity by one centimetre in the first end. After that, they struggled and lost three games in a row. In the fifth game, Isabella shot 48% and Rasmus 68%, and they lost 0-9 to Norway. At that point, I thought they were out.

I was wrong.

They finished the round robin with 83%, 86%, 84% and 89%. They won the semifinal with 91% and the final with 83%. And in the final, Isabella threw 97%.

Yes. Ninety-seven percent. Read it again.

That’s a team. Strong teams grow through adversity. I had my Wranå jacket on and enjoyed every second of their joy.

Silver: Korey Dropkin (USA)

Korey Dropkin’s athleticism, energy, passion and joy were impossible to ignore. Look at his sweeping on the last stone in the second end against Estonia, the fourth stone in the seventh end, his energy in the eighth end of the semifinal, and the celebrations after the win.

As President Alexander Stubb once said, we Finns are “cool, calm and collected.” In sports, that often means very quiet celebrations. Think of Kimi Räikkönen. That is why we are usually not big fans of American showmanship.

But Korey is different.

His joy is natural, genuine and contagious. Watching him, I felt for a moment as if I had won something myself. That kind of visible happiness is good for curling. He clearly enjoys hard sweeping and difficult shots, and he shares that enjoyment with the audience.

Statistically, he was the best player in the tournament. And I believe that joy does not only follow results – it helps create them.

Bronze: Stefania Constantini (Italy)

Focus, calmness and clear communication. Sometimes excellence is quiet.

4th: Great Britain (Scotland)

The Scottish team of Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat continues to set an example in professionalism and mutual respect. They apologize for even the smallest mistakes. No blaming, no fighting – just teamwork.

5th: Canada

For a married couple, they stand out in the best possible way. No hidden daggers, no passive aggression, just support and constructive communication. 

Their fans deserve credit too. Canadian teams always carry medal pressure, yet even without medals, supporters fill the social media space with encouragement.

That does not happen in Finland.

6th: Norway

Their intense and sometimes heated communication is obvious even to those who don’t understand their language. They have said openly that, for them, it is better to let things out than keep them inside.

They know each other well. It works for them.

Fair and honest.

7th: Switzerland

The cutest moment of the tournament might have been when they brought their barely walking baby onto the carpet beside the ice surface after their first game. Television cameras followed the family, especially the toddler playing with a broom. 

Both parents come from famous Swiss curling families, so the future seems secure.

Olympic Games 2050, perhaps?

8th: Czechia

Ages 19 and 21. Juniors. Already Olympians. Three wins.

Their joy was pure and refreshing. They could still compete in 2030, 2034, 2038, 2042, 2046, 2050 and even 2054 – and still not be the oldest curlers in Olympic history.

Think about that.

9th: Republic of Korea

Partly cultural, partly personal: this team keeps a poker face almost all the time. But behind that calm exterior are bold tactical choices and impressive execution.

After losing their first five games, they beat USA, Estonia and Canada in a row, shooting 84%, 84% and 81%.

Quietly dangerous.

10th: Estonia

Estonia has around 70 curlers in total, and many of them were on site wearing light-blue supporter hoodies. After reaching world No. 1 and winning world championship silver in 2024, expectations and funding increased. The team partnered with Norway, shared training camps, invested in Olympic profile stones and built a strong support team.

On paper, the Olympic result might seem disappointing. But the Olympic Games are more than a competition. They are the biggest sports fair in the world, bringing together athletes, media and global attention.

Half of an athlete’s job is to compete.

The other half is to represent the sport.

For small curling countries, media exposure is priceless. And this is where Estonia excels. They know how to create stories, how to present their sport and how to make things look good.

Their media work before, during and after the Games has huge potential to grow curling at home.

Coach of the Week: Steffen Walstad

When Steffen arrives for timeouts, spectators might think: “Wow, this coach really knows what he’s doing.” And he does.

But even more importantly, he knows exactly what his team – Estonia’s Harri Lill and Marie Kaldvee – want from him.

No discussion.

No hesitation.

No debate.

Arrive immediately. Give clear instructions. Leave early. So the team saves time.

Very few coaches can execute that role so precisely. Steffen did it perfectly.

Hats off.