‘I told him where to stick it’: Tensions boil in Canada-Sweden curling amid ‘double touch’ claims

Sydney Morning Herald

by Aadi Nair

February 14, 2026

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‘I told him where to stick it’: Tensions boil in Canada-Sweden curling amid ‘double touch’ claims

Tensions ran high during an intense curling match at the Winter Olympics as Canada defeated Sweden 8-6 amid allegations of cheating. The game was marked by a heated exchange between the two teams’ thirds, Marc Kennedy of Canada and Oskar Eriksson of Sweden, after Sweden accused Canada of double touching the stone—a violation that occurs when a player contacts the moving stone after release. The controversy began early in the match, with Sweden’s team raising concerns with officials about Canada’s curlers making contact with the stone beyond the hog line. In response, Canada requested that officials monitor both teams equally. The tension escalated further in the penultimate end when Sweden scored two points to take a 7-6 lead. Eriksson confronted Kennedy, claiming he would show him replay footage of alleged violations. Kennedy defended his actions, stating he respects his opponent but refuses to tolerate cheating. World Curling had introduced electronic hog line devices to monitor touch violations, with red lights flashing if players touched the stone beyond the line. Despite this technology, Sweden continued to accuse Canada of improper contact, claiming the officials misread the rules. The umpires observed three ends without finding any violations, and no penalties were issued. The incident highlights the competitive stakes and high-pressure environment of Olympic curling. While Sweden’s team was struggling after losing their first two games, they used the allegations as a last-ditch effort to challenge Canada’s lead. Kennedy emphasized that he respects his rival but will not back down when fairness is at risk, underscoring the importance of sportsmanship in international competitions. This story captures the intense rivalry and passion inherent in Olympic

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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/14/2026