“Korey and I have lost our fair share of Olympic Trials (runner-up at two each), so to be on top is just an incredible feeling,” Cory Thiesse said on NBC Sports. The road to the Olympics and the Paralympics is never easy. It’s lined with heartbreak, setbacks, and years of relentless pursuit of a dream that demands everything from an athlete, often without the financial security to sustain the journey. But it might be time to take a sigh of relief.

For athletes like the three-time Paralympic medalist Hunter Woodhall, the struggle goes beyond the competition itself. Woodhall, whose journey to Paralympic gold has been nothing short of inspirational, knows firsthand the challenges of balancing elite training with financial uncertainty. But now, thanks to a game-changing shift by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF), that struggle may finally be easing.

The USOPF has just landed a $100 million donation from hedge fund CEO Ross Stevens. It is an investment that could rewrite the future for Team USA athletes. No longer will their Olympic dreams come at the cost of financial uncertainty. “It’s the most meaningful thing we’ve done. It’s amazing,” USOPF CEO Sarah Hirshland said. “Those are the two messages that I sent to our team. It’s the most incredible thing we’ve accomplished, and it’s not the end of a journey.” In an Olympic landscape where financial strain often forces athletes to choose between chasing their dreams and securing their futures, this initiative is nothing short of revolutionary.

“The concept behind the donation is something we’ve been talking about literally since the first months of my tenure, recognizing that Team USA athletes are not getting the financial support they need to be able to easily choose to do this and continue to do it,” Hirshland added. The harsh reality is that while athletes dedicate their lives to representing their country, very few are able to sustain themselves. Many rely on stipends and part-time jobs. This gift will ensure that eligible U.S. athletes receive $200,000 in benefits for each game they compete in.

The Stevens Financial Security Award is more than just a paycheck. And with the USOPF working to expand the fund even further, this could be just the first step in reshaping what it means to be an Olympian in the United States.

One step closer: Thiesse & Dropkin’s Olympic dream gains momentum

Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin are no strangers to the grind, and their latest victory proves just how far they’ve come. This past weekend, the duo battled their way to the top, sweeping the U.S. Olympic Mixed Doubles Curling Trials in Lafayette, Colorado. In a nail-biting showdown, they edged out Sarah Anderson and Andrew Stopera with a 6-3 win. With this triumph, they are now one major step closer to an Olympic debut in Milan Cortina 2026.

But the celebration is short-lived—qualification isn’t locked in just yet. To officially punch their ticket to the Games, Thiesse and Dropkin must navigate the high-stakes international circuit. Their first challenge? The World Championships in New Brunswick, Canada, in just two months. Team USA needs to rack up enough points from the 2024 and 2025 Worlds to land in the top seven and secure an automatic Olympic berth. If they fall short, a nerve-wracking last-chance qualifier in December will be their final shot.

And what about athletes like Hunter Woodhall? “I wasn’t going to be seen as just someone with a disability,” Woodhall told Sports Illustrated in 2017. Well, the six-time World Championship medalist did prove himself. While Hirshland acknowledged that the USOPC and its foundation are still working to expand athlete support during their careers, this move is a step in the right direction. It’s a promise that their sacrifices won’t be for nothing. What do you think? Will this mark the beginning of a new era for Team USA athletes? Share your thoughts in the comments.