Curling-Team US bring 'the calm and the fire' to mixed doubles competition

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Feb 3 : American curlers Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse may be polar opposites on the ice, but they feel their contrasting personalities could create the perfect mix as they head into the mixed doubles competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

The pair, world champions in 2023, are among a number of teams who will be vying for the medals when the tournament begins on Wednesday in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

"We just work so well together. We know how to stay loose and stay in the present moment," Dropkin told reporters.

"We fit so well together personality wise. There's someone that's termed us recently as 'the calm and the fire'. Cory's got that calm, confident, stoic personality on the ice. I bring that fiery, passionate energy. The two mix really well together.

"(When) we need to make a big shot, I'm glad to have Cory on my team. I've got all the confidence in the world that she's going to make the big one and shine bright, the star that she is."

'WE DESERVE TO BE HERE'

They face a gauntlet of elite competitors, including defending champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner of Italy, Britain's 2021 world champions Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat and two-times Olympic medallists Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten of Norway.

"The field here is just incredible, you're looking at Olympic gold medallists, world champions, just so many great teams," Thiesse said.

"We need to bring our A-Game, to every single game. We know that we're world champions ourselves and we deserve to be here. Obviously, the goal is to be on the podium at the end of the week.

"For us, it's just focusing on one game at a time, one rock at a time... Bringing out the very best in each other all week. Hopefully, if we do all those