NORGE – USA 6-8: The Norwegian curling duo of Magnus Nedregotten and Steffan Skaslien suffered their second loss at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, falling to the United States 8-6 on .
The defeat comes after an opening-game loss to Great Britain, leaving the Norwegian team with a challenging road ahead in the tournament. Skaslien acknowledged the close nature of the match, stating, “It was a tight game, which tipped the wrong way. Magnus was a little unlucky in the last end, but that’s how It’s. Things can turn around so quickly.”
Nedregotten offered a more succinct assessment: “We lost.”
The match against the United States saw a difficult start for the Norwegians, with the U.S. Taking a 1-0 lead after the first end. This prompted a visibly frustrated reaction from Nedregotten, who was heard expressing his displeasure on the ice. “It’s so damn frustrating. Damn it, what a lousy ice,” he reportedly exclaimed after attempting to sweep a stone towards a Norwegian lead.
Following the game, Nedregotten addressed his outburst, downplaying its severity. “Did I just say ‘lousy ice’? That was mild. It’s incredibly tough, very, very tough. It’s disappointing that we aren’t getting the conditions we dreamed of at the Olympics,” he said.
Despite the rocky start, the Norwegian pair mounted a strong response, winning three points in the second end to take a 3-0 lead. The United States battled back, leveling the score at 3-3 in the third. Norway regained the lead, entering the break with a 5-3 advantage.
The game remained intensely competitive, with the score tied at 6-6 heading into the final end. The United States secured two points in the last end to clinch the 8-6 victory.
A Familiar Dynamic
Skaslien and Nedregotten are known for their spirited, and sometimes contentious, communication on the ice. This dynamic was on full display during the game against the United States. Even while holding a two-point lead, a discussion arose when Nedregotten attempted to formulate a plan.
“What do you think is best?” Nedregotten asked.
“I don’t know,” Skaslien replied.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEST?” Nedregotten repeated, without receiving a response.
NRK’s curling expert, Christoffer Svae, believes this intense communication is actually a strength for the pair. “One of the strengths of Skaslien and Nedregotten is simply the intense communication between them. It has repeatedly shown that it fires them up even more and that they play even better and more focused,” Svae commented.
Concerns Over the Olympic Venue
Prior to the start of the games in Italy, the Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio, the venue hosting both curling and ice hockey, was a subject of discussion. Nedregotten, however, downplayed concerns about the facility. “I played there in 2010 at a summer tournament. It’s from 1955, of course. There’s often a lot of negative talk beforehand, but when you get there, it’s not actually that bad. The best team will win anyway. I feel confident that it will be okay,” he stated.
The opening game against Great Britain on resulted in a 6-8 loss for the Norwegian team.
Before the Olympics began, Nedregotten expressed ambitious goals for the duo. “Yes, we’re going for gold. There’s a small chance of that, but that’s what we’re aiming for. There isn’t a particularly strong favorite, so many teams can contend,” he said.
Opening Day Disruption
The Winter Olympics experienced a minor disruption on its opening day when a power outage briefly halted the curling competition. After just five minutes of play in the Norwegian-American match, the lights went out in the arena.
According to Swedish broadcaster SVT, a power failure was the cause of the lighting issue.
Skaslien and Nedregotten are scheduled to face Canada in their next match at 14:35 local time on .
