Curling Controversy: Profanity & Cheating Accusations at Winter Olympics 2024

In a sport celebrated for its sportsmanship and quiet intensity, an unusual scene unfolded at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Stadium, injecting a rare dose of on-ice tension into the Winter Olympics. The incident, involving accusations of rule violations and a heated exchange of words, quickly garnered international attention.

The controversy erupted during the ninth end of a match between Canada and Sweden on Friday, February 13, 2026. Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson voiced concerns that Canadian vice-skip Marc Kennedy may have touched the stone a second time after releasing it, a practice that would provide an unfair advantage. Kennedy vehemently denied the accusation, responding with a profanity-laced retort that was captured by on-ice microphones.

“I haven’t done it once,” Kennedy reportedly said during the exchange, as detailed in multiple reports. The tension escalated with further exchanges, with Kennedy telling Eriksson to “f— off.” Eriksson maintained his position, stating he had video evidence to support his claim.

The incident quickly became a major talking point, drawing headlines from major news outlets. “Cheating allegations rock Canada-Sweden curling match in profane Olympic scene: `You can f—k off,” read a headline from the New York Post. The Guardian’s headline similarly highlighted the profanity and accusations: “‘I told him where to stick it’: Cheating claims fly in Canada v Sweden Winter Olympics curling clash.”

The Canadian team, which ultimately won the game Friday night 8-6, received strong support from Curling Canada. Chief executive officer Nolan Thiessen stated, “We’re fully supportive of Team Jacobs. I stand behind those guys. They always play with a lot of integrity and they would never knowingly do anything that was offside from the rules.” The Canadian team consists of skip Brad Jacobs, vice-skip Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, and lead Ben Hebert.

World Curling responded to the incident by clarifying the rules regarding touching the stone during delivery. According to rule R. 5 (d), touching the granite of the stone after releasing the handle is prohibited, and any such infraction would result in the stone being removed from play. The organization also announced that, beginning Saturday, February 14, 2026, two officials would be positioned between each sheet to observe deliveries more closely.

A verbal warning was issued to Canadian team officials regarding the language used during the game, with a warning that further inappropriate behavior could result in additional sanctions, including potential suspension.

The incident sparked discussion about the typically reserved nature of curling and the rarity of such heated exchanges. Canadian women’s team coach Heather Nedohin offered a perspective, stating, “I think it was the boys being boys. It’s a battle.” She also noted the contrast in reaction, saying, “They say it in hockey a hundred million times. We say it once and we’re in an uproar. Like, I have to giggle.”

While video-assisted review is not currently used in curling, umpires are stationed at the end of each sheet to address any disputes. World Curling communications chief Chris Hamilton explained that officials had spoken with both teams and implemented a protocol of monitoring deliveries for three ends following the complaint. Hamilton also stated that “There were no hog-line violations or retouches of the stone during that observation period.” An interview request with World Curling’s chief umpire was declined.

The incident also brought to light the occasional use of profanity in curling, though typically not to the extent seen in the Canada-Sweden match. Nedohin recounted a similar incident from her own past, sharing that she had adopted the phrase “Sugarballs” as a substitute for stronger language when feeling frustrated on the ice.

Nedohin concluded by suggesting that the controversy, while unusual, could ultimately benefit the sport. “Hallelujah, we’re getting attention for curling,” she said. “Really. Like if that’s what it takes to create a buzz, like a nail on granite that’s doing nothing – perfect. We got attention.”

Following the contentious match, Canada improved to a 3-0 record in round-robin play. Sweden, skipped by Niklas Edin, entered its Saturday game against China’s Xiaoming Xu with a 0-3 record. Play at the Winter Olympics continues through February 22, 2026.