Olympic Curling Erupts in Controversy Between Canada and Sweden
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina witnessed a dramatic confrontation on the curling ice, as Team Canada and Team Sweden engaged in a heated dispute over accusations of rule violations and unsportsmanlike conduct. The incident has sparked international attention and raised questions about competitive integrity at the highest level of winter sports.
Accusations Fly During Men's Round Robin Match
During Friday night's men's curling match at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson publicly accused Canadian athlete Marc Kennedy of committing hog line violations. Eriksson, who serves as third for Team Niklas Edin, claimed Kennedy had been touching the granite portion of the stone after releasing it past the hog line, which constitutes an illegal "double touch" under curling regulations.
"Apparently it's OK touching the rock after the hog line," Eriksson declared within earshot of the Canadian team. When Kennedy demanded to know who was being accused, Eriksson pointed directly at the Canadian curler.
Kennedy responded with vehement denial and profanity-laden retorts, telling Eriksson to "f— off" and insisting he had not committed any violations. The exchange escalated as Kennedy complained about Eriksson's movement during Canadian shots, adding further expletives to emphasize his frustration.
Post-Game Fallout and Filming Allegations
Despite the on-ice tension, Canada secured an 8-6 victory, improving their round robin record to 3-0 while Sweden fell to 0-3. However, the controversy continued to develop in the aftermath of the match.
Eriksson explained his perspective to CBC reporters, stating, "We tried to play an honest and fair game... The only part that you can touch is the handle. There's only one part where the sensor is, so if you touch anything else, it's a burnt rock."
Kennedy expressed respect for Eriksson as a player but called the cheating accusation "horsesh—," adding, "We're the wrong team to accuse of cheating in the ninth end of a game." While he later expressed regret for his profane language, Kennedy stood by his defense of himself and his teammates.
The situation grew more complex on Saturday when Kennedy alleged that someone from Sweden's delegation had been illegally filming his deliveries during the match. Olympic regulations strictly limit filming to authorized Olympic Broadcasting Services personnel only.
"They have come up with a plan here at the Olympics, as far as I know, to catch teams in the act at the hog line," Kennedy told reporters. "This was planned, right from the word go."
Official Responses and Broader Implications
World Curling Federation officials investigated Sweden's initial complaint and monitored three ends of play, finding no hog line violations or improper stone touches. The organization issued a verbal warning to Canadian officials regarding Kennedy's profanity and warned that further outbursts would result in sanctions.
Team Sweden denied any inappropriate recording activities, attributing circulated video footage to Swedish public broadcasters. Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen expressed concern about the filming allegations, noting, "I was surprised that there was a live video on the hog line outside of OBS rules. That seems odd to me."
The controversy extended beyond the men's competition when Canadian women's skip Rachel Homan had a stone removed during her match against Switzerland on Saturday morning. An official ruled she had touched her rock after release, though Homan strongly disputed the call, stating, "I'll never understand it. Never done that. Refs shouldn't be in our game."
This incident highlights the intense pressure and scrutiny facing Olympic curlers, where millimeter-perfect technique meets high-stakes competition. The Canada-Sweden rivalry has added a new layer of drama to the 2026 Winter Games, demonstrating how quickly sportsmanship disputes can escalate at the world's premier athletic event.
