Canada and Sweden Clash in Olympic Curling Cheating Row
A simmering dispute boiled over at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as Canada and Sweden became embroiled in a heated cheating row during their men’s curling round-robin clash.
Best Bookmakers for United States
What began as a quiet complaint about stone delivery ended in finger-pointing, foul language and a blunt post-match response from Canada’s Marc Kennedy: “I told him where to stick it.” Sweden alleged that Kennedy had been “double-touching” his stones, i.e. releasing the handle legally before the hog line, but then subtly nudging the stone again with his finger to influence its path.
The accusation was raised by Sweden skip Niklas Edin midway through the match, with officials alerted between the second and third ends. Though play continued, tensions clearly rose.
Accusations on the Ice
Under Olympic curling rules, each stone is fitted with a sensor to confirm the player releases the handle before the hog line. A green light signals a legal release; red indicates a fault. Kennedy’s deliveries registered green throughout the match.
However, Swedish players claimed video replays showed additional finger contact after release – something not detected by the handle sensor. In curling, touching a moving stone after release can result in it being deemed “burned,” potentially affecting play.
The flashpoint came late in the game. With Canada edging ahead, Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson confronted Kennedy across the sheet. Words were exchanged, and gestures followed in an unusually heated moment for a sport known for its etiquette.
“I don’t like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games,” Kennedy said afterwards. “So I told him where to stick it.”
A Hotly Debated Fine Detail
The incident has divided opinion. Some argue that any post-release contact breaches the spirit of the rules, even if the sensor shows a legal delivery. Others say the technology is the definitive judge: if it flashes green, the stone counts.
No formal protest has been publicly confirmed. Under Olympic procedures, teams sign off on results once matches conclude, making any overturn unlikely.
Canada secured an 8–6 victory, maintaining their unbeaten start. Sweden, the reigning Olympic champions, remain without a win after three games.
FAQ
More tips on Olympiad
Andrea Giovannini
Jordan Stolz
Frida Karlsson
Astrid Øyre Slind
Francesco Friedrich
Johannes Lochner
Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
