Canadian Curling Couple Reflects on Olympic Journey After Medal Hopes End
For Canadian curlers Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo brought both promise and heartbreak. The married duo, who entered the mixed doubles tournament with high expectations, saw their medal dreams come to an early end after a series of tough losses.
A Partnership Tested on Olympic Ice
Watching Olympic aspirations fade is never simple, but when your curling partner is also your life partner, the experience carries unique emotional weight. "It's tough either way," Gallant acknowledged following their 9-5 defeat to South Korea at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium.
The couple, who married in 2022 after years of competing together in mixed doubles, now face the disappointment as a team both on and off the ice. "We've been through it all together, we've been through some ups, we've been through some downs," Gallant reflected. "We're gonna be here to support each other, but this one's gonna hurt for a little while."
Promising Start Followed by Challenges
Gallant and Peterman began the 10-team tournament with impressive momentum, securing three consecutive victories. Their most notable win came against Italian favorites Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, whom they defeated 7-2. This victory ended the Italians' remarkable streak of 23 consecutive wins in Olympic and world championship competitions, achieved before their home crowd.
However, their success proved short-lived. The turning point came during their match against Team USA, which attracted celebrity attention with Snoop Dogg in attendance. The Canadians fell 7-5 in that contest. Compounding their difficulties, ice conditions changed significantly the following day when ice makers prepared faster, straighter sheets for their early game against Great Britain.
"Without that curl we struggled, that's just a fact," Gallant admitted, noting that the altered ice conditions continued to challenge them throughout the remainder of the tournament.
Competitive Field and Final Losses
The pressure intensified with a narrow 7-6 loss to Sweden on Sunday afternoon. Later that same day, Estonia—making their Olympic debut—delivered an 8-6 upset against the Canadian pair.
Coach Scott Pfeifer emphasized the exceptional depth of competition at this year's event. "There's eight teams here that are world championship medallists," he observed. "This is easily the most in-depth field that we had here. Every single game out there was a grind, and sometimes you're on the right side of the inch and sometimes you're on the wrong side of the inch."
Reflecting on their performance after the initial victories, Pfeifer added, "We never got going again. It wasn't for a lack of effort. They tried their hearts out."
Looking Forward with Family Support
Despite their elimination from medal contention, Gallant and Peterman still had one final match against Switzerland scheduled for Monday morning. For Peterman, this meant preparing to leave the athletes' village while Gallant remained to compete with Team Brad Jacobs in the men's tournament.
Peterman confirmed she would stay in Cortina with family members, including their young son, to cheer on her husband in his upcoming matches. "Thinking about this game is going to hurt for a little while," Gallant shared. "Just reset, take our minds off it. We still have one more game and we want to finish off with a win."
The couple emphasized that their bond would help them navigate this disappointment. "We love each other, we've been through the highs and the lows together before, and we're going to support each other," Gallant affirmed, noting that a hug from their son would provide the best comfort during this challenging time.
