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The tales of these athletes shed light on the economic challenges many competitors face while chasing Olympic dreams.
DULUTH, Minn. — As Team USA’s mixed doubles curling duo gears up for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they juggle full-time employment alongside their training, highlighting the financial hurdles common among Olympians.
Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Olympic curler Korey Dropkin manages to split his time between curling and his full-time profession.
“I’m essentially holding down two full-time roles: one as a curler and the other as a realtor,” Dropkin explained, emphasizing that relocating to Duluth was crucial for his Olympic aspirations. “To truly chase my dreams, living in Duluth is a necessity.”
His partner in mixed doubles, Cory Thiesse, a Duluth native who took up curling at the age of 8 inspired by her parents, balances her athletic commitments with a job at a company specializing in mercury testing in wastewater. She appreciates the job’s flexibility, which enables her to compete.
“I feel grateful that I have a job that pays the bills while I go compete in curling,” Thiesse said.
Both athletes said they have worked toward the Olympic stage since childhood.
“This is what we’ve been dreaming of since we were little kids,” Thiesse said.
Dropkin called the qualification experience something he had “been dreaming about for 20 years,” adding that playing for Olympic gold will be “such a cool opportunity.”
Dropkin and Thiesse will compete in the mixed doubles competition beginning Feb. 4.