CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Controversy is swirling in curling on the Winter Olympics and it’s all centering on whether or not the mighty Canadian group is dishonest.
Each males’s and women’s groups have now been accused of the identical infraction: double-touching the curling stone after it’s launched.
It comes because the historic curling powerhouse finds its ego bruised. Its mixed doubles team did not even play for a medal, and its ladies’s group cannot afford to lose more matches in the event that they hope to advance.
Here is a have a look at the entire controversy and why it has exploded:
On Friday, Swedish roller Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian roller Marc Kennedy of breaking the foundations by touching the rock once more after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. Kennedy blew up, launching an expletive-laden outburst.
That was earlier than video showing to point out a transparent double-touch by Kennedy circulated on social media, taken by Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Nonetheless, he maintained his innocence. The Canadians received the match, 8-6.
Late Saturday, an umpire accused acclaimed Canadian skip Rachel Homan of the identical infraction in Canada’s match towards Switzerland. The umpire stopped play and the stone was faraway from play. Homan regarded shocked and denied the allegation.
Once more, video unfold on social media showing to point out her double-touch. The Canadians misplaced to the Swiss, 8-7.
After the uproar, World Curling clarified that double-tapping shouldn’t be allowed, issuing a press release: “Throughout ahead movement, touching the granite of the stone shouldn’t be allowed. This may end result within the stone being faraway from play.”
Requested in regards to the footage, Kennedy stated: “If any individual stated to you, ‘Hey, do you double-touch on a regular basis?’ I actually, in that break up second of a second, I couldn’t even let you know if I do or not.”
He then recommended the entire thing might need been “premeditated planning to attempt to catch us.”
“They’ve provide you with a plan to catch groups within the act,” Kennedy stated.
Homan, in the meantime, postulated that she was being unfairly focused due to the controversy on the lads’s facet.
“I don’t perceive the decision. I’ll by no means perceive it. We’ve by no means carried out that,” she stated. “It has nothing to do with us.”
As fierce because the competitors may be, curling has a quiet camaraderie to it although there have been scandals (see: Broomgate, a sweeping-related headache that World Curling believes it solved last June). So it stands out when there are allegations of dishonest.
Canada can also be the highest nation in curling, simply its largest market and the place the most important non-Olympic competitions are inclined to happen. They’re taking it personally that their integrity is coming underneath assault in entrance of a world viewers on the Olympics, which touts the values of respect and friendship.
The athletes taking part in for Canada and Sweden was once shut off the ice – big rivals, positive, however admiring of one another’s curling abilities. Now there’s clear animosity between the groups, which is intriguing for the informal viewer however a tragic blow to the curling neighborhood.
Canada’s curlers are the place they don’t wish to be in the course of a Winter Olympics: on the again foot, not simply questioning their method – “We’ll make some changes, release-wise, if we have now to,” Kennedy stated – but additionally srambling to be within the combine for medals on the finish of the week.
Kennedy had the worst shot success of Canada’s 4 gamers in its solely sport Saturday, in line with event statistics. Canada misplaced 9-5 to Switzerland, a group it was anticipated to beat.
All eyes are on each groups now. The Canadian males wouldn’t face Sweden once more earlier than the semifinals, ought to each groups make it, and that will be must-see TV whether or not you’re a curling fan or not.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
