In a thrilling showdown, South Korean mixed doubles curling pair Kim Seon-young and Jung Young-seok finally celebrated their first victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics, held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. They faced stiff competition in their preliminary round, having lost their previous five matches before coming to this crucial encounter against the strong American duo of Cory Tish and Corey Dropkin. With the U.S. team being a dark horse in the event and boasting recent championship success, the pressure was on for the Korean pair to deliver a performance that would break their losing streak.

From the outset of the match, Kim and Jung managed to maintain a slight lead, scoring in the first two ends. As the match progressed, they exchanged points with the U.S. team but managed to hold a 4-2 advantage at the midpoint. The tension escalated as the U.S. team utilized their power play in the seventh end to attempt a comeback, but the Korean pair, demonstrating remarkable resilience, executed a steal, extending their lead to 5-2. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the eighth end, where the South Koreans faltered and surrendered three points, pushing the contest to an extra end.

In the additional end, both players displayed exceptional focus. Jung's maneuver to clear the U.S. stones shifted the momentum in Korea's favor, and Kim secured victory by placing the final stone closest to the target. After the match, an emotional Kim expressed her relief at finally securing a win and highlighted the importance of playing their own style of curling despite previous losses. Jung echoed her sentiments, noting the joy of victory and the relief of finally breaking through after a challenging tournament thus far.