USA Edges Canada in Olympic Curling Showdown with Celebrity Backing
The age-old sports rivalry between Canada and the United States has found a new arena on the Olympic curling sheet. In the first head-to-head matchup between the two nations at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, Team USA secured a narrow 7-5 victory over Canada in the mixed doubles competition.
A Question of Rivalry on the Ice
Following the Friday morning match that saw Canadian duo Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant suffer their first loss of the tournament, coaches and athletes offered differing perspectives on whether a true curling rivalry exists between the neighboring countries.
Team Canada coach Scott Pfeifer downplayed any competitive animosity, emphasizing the sport's collegial nature. "We know those guys really well, they're great people," Pfeifer stated. "This is about sport, not politics. We've got nine teams that are trying to get to the same podium we are."
In contrast, U.S. coach Phil Drobnick acknowledged a growing competitive edge since American curlers broke through with gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. "I think since then it's kind of had a little bit of a rivalry," Drobnick remarked while showing off a Death Row records necklace and Coach Snoop hat gifted by the team's celebrity supporter.
The Athletes' Perspective
The Canadian curlers themselves echoed their coach's emphasis on sportsmanship over rivalry. "I don't think so," Peterman responded when asked about a Canada-U.S. curling rivalry. "Curling is such a special sport. Everyone in the curling community is kind of friends and we all get along."
Gallant added that athletes remain focused on competition rather than political dimensions. "We're not really into the political side of things. Everybody's just trying to come here, compete to their best, to represent their country."
Standings Shift After Early Matchup
The loss drops Canada to a 3-1 record in the ten-team round robin, placing them third behind Great Britain's undefeated Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds (4-0) and the victorious American pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin (3-0).
Peterman and Gallant had entered the match with momentum after defeating reigning Olympic champions Italy on home ice just hours earlier. They now face another significant challenge against the leading British team on Saturday morning.
The Snoop Dogg Factor
The presence of global music icon Snoop Dogg as honorary coach for Team USA created an electric atmosphere in the curling stadium. Peterman noted that despite being a morning draw, the match attracted the loudest crowd yet, forcing the Canadian duo to rely on hand signals for communication.
Dropkin revealed that the American team received notice of Snoop Dogg's attendance shortly before the match. Thiesse spotted the rapper midway through the game wearing a jacket featuring both American curlers' faces.
According to Drobnick, this likely marked the California native's first experience with curling. "He didn't mention whether he's done it or not, but I think this is his first time stepping on the ice," the U.S. coach observed.
The celebrity endorsement and resulting media attention highlight curling's growing profile beyond its traditional strongholds, adding an unexpected dimension to Olympic competition as the 2026 Games officially opened later that same Friday evening.
