Curling Controversy Grips Winter Olympics as Double-Touching Accusations Fly
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – A cloud of controversy is hanging over the curling competition at the Winter Olympics, with both the Canadian men’s and women’s teams facing accusations of illegally double-touching stones after release. The allegations, initially leveled by Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson against Canadian vice-skip Marc Kennedy, have quickly escalated, casting a shadow over the historic curling powerhouse’s performance in Milan, and Cortina.
The initial incident occurred during Friday’s round-robin match between Canada and Sweden, which Canada won 8-6. Eriksson accused Kennedy of making contact with the stone after it had already been released, a violation of curling rules. Kennedy vehemently denied the accusation, responding with an expletive-laden outburst captured on broadcast. Footage circulating online appeared to show Kennedy’s finger making contact with the stone, fueling the debate.
“If somebody said to you, ‘Hey, do you double-touch all the time?’ I honestly, in that split second of a moment, I couldn’t even tell you if I do or not,” Kennedy said, adding that he felt his team might be the target of “premeditated planning to try to catch us.” He also acknowledged he “probably could have handled it better” after the heated exchange with Eriksson.
Accusations Extend to Canadian Women’s Team
The controversy didn’t end with the men’s team. On Saturday, during Canada’s match against Switzerland, an umpire accused Canadian skip Rachel Homan of the same infraction. Play was stopped, and the stone was removed. Homan, visibly shocked, denied the allegation, suggesting she was being unfairly targeted due to the ongoing scrutiny of the Canadian teams.
“I don’t understand the call. I’ll never understand it. We’ve never done that,” Homan stated. The Canadians ultimately lost to Switzerland 8-7 in an extra end.
Expanding Concerns and Rule Clarification
The accusations have prompted World Curling to clarify its rules regarding touching stones during play. According to the organization, touching the granite of the stone during its forward motion is prohibited, resulting in the stone being removed from play. The controversy has also spread beyond Canada and Sweden, with the British men’s team also having a stone removed for a similar alleged violation during their match against Germany on Sunday.
In the ninth end of Britain’s match against Germany, officials determined that Scottish curler Bobby Lammie had touched a stone after releasing it. Britain went on to win the match 9-4.
A Blow to Curling’s Tradition of Sportsmanship
The accusations and resulting confrontations are particularly jarring within the typically sportsmanlike culture of curling. While fierce competition is expected, the sport has historically been characterized by a quiet camaraderie and mutual respect among players. The current situation threatens to disrupt that tradition, especially given the long-standing rivalry between Canada and Sweden.
The relationship between the Canadian and Swedish teams, once marked by admiration despite intense competition, now appears strained. The accusations have injected a level of animosity that is unusual for the sport.
Impact on Canadian Performance and Future Outlook
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Canada’s curling program. The mixed doubles team failed to medal, and the women’s team is facing mounting pressure to perform well to remain in contention for a medal. Canada lost to Switzerland 9-5 on Saturday, a result that was unexpected given their historical dominance in the sport.
Kennedy acknowledged that the team may need to adjust its technique in response to the scrutiny. “We’ll make some adjustments, release-wise, if we have to,” he said. His shot success rate in Saturday’s match was the lowest among Canada’s four players, according to tournament statistics.
The coming days will be crucial for the Canadian teams as they navigate the remainder of the round-robin play. The possibility of a rematch between Canada and Sweden in the semifinals looms large, promising a potentially explosive encounter. The outcome of these matches, and the resolution of the double-touching accusations, will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the curling competition at the Winter Olympics.
