CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – A men’s curling match at the , Winter Olympics descended into controversy Friday as accusations of cheating and subsequent profanity-laced exchanges overshadowed Canada’s 8-6 victory over Sweden. The incident has prompted a verbal warning from World Curling officials and a clarification of rules surrounding stone delivery.
The dispute erupted when Oskar Eriksson of Sweden accused Canadian curler Marc Kennedy of “double-touching” a stone – illegally making contact with the stone after its initial release but before it reaches the hog line. According to reports, Kennedy vehemently denied the accusation, responding with expletives directed at Eriksson.
“I don’t like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games,” Kennedy stated following the match. “So I told him where to stick it. Because we’re the wrong team to do that to.”
Eriksson maintained that he was acting in the interest of fair play. “We want a game that is as sportsmanlike, honest and clean as possible,” he said, adding that he believed he could demonstrate Kennedy’s infraction with video evidence. “So we call it out as soon as I see that the Canadian No. 2 is, in my eyes, there poking the stone.”
The rules governing stone delivery stipulate that a curler must release the stone using the handle and that this release must occur before the stone crosses the hog line. Replays appeared to show Kennedy releasing the stone with the handle, then subsequently touching it with a finger – not the handle – as it approached the line, a violation of the rules.
World Curling responded to the incident with a verbal warning to Canadian officials, citing Kennedy’s use of profanity. A statement released indicated that further “inappropriate behavior” could result in more severe sanctions, including potential suspension from the competition. The organization also issued a clarification of the “double touching” rule, emphasizing the proper technique for stone release.
The controversy unfolded during round-robin play, a stage of the Olympic curling tournament where teams compete to secure a position in the later stages of the competition. The incident occurred near the end of the match, with Sweden lodging complaints to officials throughout the game regarding the alleged double touches, even prompting pauses in play for discussion.
While the immediate outcome was a verbal reprimand, the incident raises broader questions about sportsmanship and the intensity of competition at the Olympic level. Curling, traditionally known for its decorum and strategic nuance, has seen increased scrutiny in recent years as it gains wider international viewership. The heightened pressure of Olympic competition, combined with the precision required in the sport, can create a volatile environment, as evidenced by this exchange.
The Swedish team’s decision to publicly challenge Kennedy’s technique, and the subsequent reaction, highlights the importance placed on adhering to the rules, even in the heat of competition. The accusation of cheating, regardless of its validity, clearly struck a nerve with Kennedy, a veteran of four Olympic Games.
Following the match, videos of the exchange circulated widely on social media, sparking debate among curling fans and observers. Some commentators criticized Kennedy’s language, while others expressed sympathy for his frustration at being accused of dishonesty. The incident has also prompted discussion about the role of video review in curling and whether more robust mechanisms are needed to address potential rule violations.
An official remained at the hog line for three ends following the incident to monitor Canada’s curlers, and World Curling confirmed that no further violations were recorded during that observation period. This suggests that, while the initial accusation sparked a heated reaction, Kennedy and his team did not repeat the alleged infraction.
The incident comes amid a broader context of increasing scrutiny of competitive sports and the pressure faced by athletes to perform at the highest level. The pursuit of Olympic gold often pushes athletes to their limits, and the line between aggressive competition and unsportsmanlike conduct can sometimes become blurred. The World Curling’s response, while relatively mild, serves as a reminder that maintaining the integrity of the sport is paramount, even in the face of intense rivalry.
