Kelowna Olympic Curling Qualifier: USA Teams Secure Final 2026 Olympic Berths
December 11, 2025 – Kelowna, British Columbia — The Kelowna Curling Club became the final battleground for Olympic dreams this past week as the 2025 Olympic Qualification Event concluded with dramatic finishes in both the men’s and women’s competitions. The United States emerged victorious in both categories, with Team Casper and Team Peterson securing the last two spots for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.
Women’s Competition: Team Peterson’s Comeback Victory
In a thrilling winner-take-all showdown on Thursday, December 11, Team Peterson defeated Norway 8-4 to claim the final women’s curling berth at the Olympics. Skip Tabitha Peterson led her team—which includes her sister Tara Peterson, Cory Thiesse, Taylor Anderson-Heide, and Aileen Geving—through a resilient performance that showcased their championship mettle.
The match started ominously for the Americans, who found themselves trailing 3-0 after the second end. However, Team Peterson rallied to score eight of the final nine points, demonstrating the composure that has defined their season.
The turning point came in the third end when the U.S. team responded with three points of their own to tie the match. From there, Peterson’s squad took control, stealing single points in the fifth, sixth, and seventh ends to build a commanding 6-3 lead.
“We knew there was lots of time to battle back, and that’s just what we did,” Peterson said in her post-match interview, reflecting on the team’s early deficit.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Peterson sisters, both of whom have become mothers in recent years. This will be Tabitha Peterson’s third Olympic Games, while it marks the second Olympics for Tara Peterson and Cory Thiesse, and the first for Taylor Anderson-Heide.
Men’s Competition: Team Casper Defeats China
Just one day earlier, Team Casper—led by skip Danny Casper and featuring Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, Aidan Oldenburg, and Rich Ruohonen—secured the men’s spot with a victory over China. Team Casper defeated Team Shuster in the U.S. Qualifier before setting down China in Kelowna to earn their Olympic berth.
The American men’s team showed consistency throughout the qualification event, peaking at the right moment to secure their place on the Olympic stage.
The Road to Kelowna
The Olympic Qualification Event brought together the final contenders who hadn’t yet secured their spots through world championship results. Eight teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions battled through round-robin play for the chance to compete for the final two Olympic berths in each event.
In the women’s competition, Japan secured the first available spot after defeating Norway 6-5 in the initial playoff match, setting up the decisive U.S.-Norway showdown. The round-robin phase saw intense competition, with Norway and Japan finishing tied at 6-1, while the United States claimed third place at 5-2.
Team Peterson faced adversity even during the round-robin when skip Tabitha Peterson fell ill and had to sit out a match against Norway. Vice Cory Thiesse stepped into the skip role while alternate Aileen Geving filled in, and the team still managed to secure a victory—a testament to their depth and resilience.
American Curling on the Rise
With both Team Peterson and Team Casper qualifying, the United States will be represented in all three curling disciplines at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The American duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin have already qualified for the Olympics in mixed doubles, meaning Team USA will have a complete curling contingent in Milano Cortina.
This marks the eighth consecutive Olympic Games that the United States has fielded a women’s curling team, a streak that began when the sport returned to the Olympic program at Nagano 1998.
The successful qualification by both American teams was no accident. Team Peterson noted the advantage of having both squads competing at the same event, allowing them to share information about ice conditions and rock behavior.
“Having both groups here, I think, was an advantage,” Tabitha Peterson explained. “We worked as a whole group of 13 of us to achieve this today for both teams.”
Mixed Doubles Still to Come
While the men’s and women’s competitions have concluded, the Olympic Qualification Event continues with mixed doubles action beginning on Saturday, December 13. Sixteen pairs will compete for the final two mixed doubles spots at the 2026 Olympics, with qualification games scheduled for December 18.
The American mixed doubles team has already secured their berth, but the Kelowna Curling Club will remain the center of Olympic curling dreams for several more days as teams from around the world compete for their chance at Olympic glory.
Looking Ahead to Milano Cortina
Olympic curling competition at the 2026 Winter Games will take place at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, with round-robin play beginning on February 12. Both Team Peterson and Team Casper will have approximately two months to prepare and fine-tune their strategies for the Olympic stage.
For Team Peterson, the journey to Kelowna was made necessary by the sisters’ absences from international competition while starting their families, which left them just short of automatic qualification. Their success in the qualification event proves that perseverance and team chemistry can overcome any obstacle.
“It’s very special, especially with this group of girls,” Tabitha Peterson said after securing the Olympic berth. “I can’t wait to get there and perform and show the world what we can do.”
The stage is now set for American curling to showcase its strength on the Olympic stage, with two battle-tested teams ready to compete for medals in Milano Cortina.
