Swedish Siblings Wranå Capture Historic Curling Gold in Dramatic Final

Sweden's brother-and-sister curling team of Isabella and Rasmus Wranå etched their names into Olympic history Tuesday night, claiming gold in mixed doubles curling with a dramatic 6-5 victory over the United States at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. The thrilling final saw the Swedish siblings overcome a deficit in the eighth and final end to secure their nation's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the discipline.

Trailing 5-4 entering the decisive eighth end, Isabella Wranå delivered the performance of a lifetime with her final stone, scoring two crucial points to snatch victory from the American duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin. The comeback was especially remarkable given Sweden's rocky path to the final, having finished just fourth in the round-robin stage with a 5-4 record that included a loss to the very same American team they would face for gold.

The 2024 world champions entered the gold medal match riding momentum from a stunning 9-3 semi-final demolition of heavily favored Great Britain. That confidence proved vital as the Wranå siblings maintained their composure under immense pressure, with Isabella's clutch final throw demonstrating the ice-cold nerves required at the highest level of Olympic competition. Their victory adds to Sweden's curling legacy while marking a personal triumph for the unique sibling partnership.

For Team USA, the silver medal represents both achievement and heartbreak. Thiesse and Dropkin had controlled much of the final and appeared poised to capture America's first Olympic gold in mixed doubles curling before the Swedish comeback. The Americans can take solace in their strong tournament performance, but the manner of defeat—surrendering a lead in the final end—will sting for years to come.

The bronze medal went to Italy, adding to the host nation's medal haul and delighting the passionate home crowd in Cortina. Sweden's gold is particularly sweet given their fourth-place finish in the preliminary round, proving that form in knockout Olympic competition matters more than seeding. The Wranå siblings' victory adds another chapter to curling's growing Olympic tradition and showcases the sport's unpredictable drama on the biggest stage.