Canadian Curler Alleges Swedish Team Orchestrated Premeditated Trap at Winter Olympics
Canadian curler Marc Kennedy has asserted that he and his teammates were ensnared in a deliberately planned trap, as international rivals continue to level accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct amid the escalating Winter Olympics cheating controversy. Kennedy found himself at the centre of one of the most significant scandals of the Milan-Cortina Games last Friday, when Sweden's Oskar Eriksson repeatedly alleged that Kennedy had double-touched his deliveries.
Explosive On-Ice Confrontation and Verbal Warning
The 44-year-old Kennedy erupted into a profanity-filled exchange with the Swede, angrily telling his opponent to 'f*** off' during a heated confrontation on the ice sheet. Subsequently, World Curling issued Kennedy a verbal warning for his inappropriate language. In a new development, Kennedy contends that the Swedish team deliberately set him up, claiming they had devised a strategy to catch him in the act of cheating.
'They have come up with a plan here at the Olympics, as far as I know, to catch teams in the act at the hog line,' Kennedy stated following the weekend incident. 'This was planned... it was kind of evident that something was going on, and they were trying to catch us in an act.'
Allegations of Camera Surveillance and Historical Grievances
Kennedy and Canadian coach Paul Webster have accused Sweden of installing cameras specifically to monitor and capture potential cheating. 'I know we're not the only team that they've done that to,' Kennedy continued. 'So I think this was, I don't know what the word is for that, but like a premeditated plan to try to catch us.'
In response, Sweden claimed they have been voicing concerns about Canada's alleged cheating for seven or eight years. Additionally, Swedish media has intensified the scandal by accusing the Canadians of intentionally losing a match to secure a more favourable path to the gold medal final.
Controversial Match Outcomes and Tactical Speculation
The Canadian men's team had only suffered one defeat before their final group stage game against Norway. However, in a surprising turn, Canada lost 8–6 to Norway on Thursday morning, resulting in a semifinal rematch between the two teams. Had Norway lost that final round-robin game, the USA would have advanced to the semifinals instead.
SVT's curling commentary team, Eva Lund and Niklas Nord, speculated on-air that Canada deliberately lost to face Norway in the semifinals. 'We guessed it would be a bit of a dead rubber match and we can probably guess that it is. Canada wants Norway in a semi-final,' Nord remarked during the Swedish broadcast.
'It's a bit too clear. I think some things are strange. But that's how it is, it's clear that you have to play tactically. That's what they're doing now,' Lund concurred. Nevertheless, both commentators emphasised that Canada's actions did not constitute outright cheating.
International Media Criticism and Further Accusations
Italian media has also criticised the Canadians, labelling them as arrogant during their match against Italy on Wednesday. Italy's Joel Retornaz accidentally touched a stone while sweeping, which the Canadians promptly highlighted. According to Corriere dello Sport, a Canadian curler accused Retornaz of the touch and made a finger gesture, to which Retornaz admitted the error, showcasing 'great fair play.'
The publication contrasted this with Canada's outburst during the Swedish clash, noting their arrogant attitude in protesting against Italy. Kennedy, competing in his fourth Winter Olympics, received a warning from World Curling on Saturday morning after taking extreme offense at Eriksson's cheating allegations.
Detailed Account of the Double-Touching Allegation
Eriksson accused Kennedy of double touching—touching the rock again after its initial release—during Canada's 8-6 victory on Friday. Television replays suggested possible infractions, but referees ultimately ruled that no rules had been broken. 'I haven't done it once,' Kennedy shouted across the sheet at Eriksson, in a furious outburst captured on SVT broadcast. 'You can f*** off.'
'I'll show you a video after the game,' Eriksson retorted. 'I'll show you a video where it's two meters over the hog line.' Kennedy fired back, 'Come on, Oskar. Just f*** off.' The confrontation nearly escalated into physical altercation.
Post-Match Reactions and Broader Scandal Implications
After the match, Kennedy challenged a Swedish reporter who questioned his language. 'You've never seen two guys have a heated argument before?' Kennedy reportedly said. 'Like, is this a personal conversation? I don't need to defend myself to a news reporter. I don't like being accused of cheating after 25 years on tour and four Olympic Games. I told him where to stick it.'
The double-touching controversy has extended beyond the men's competition, affecting women's curling as well. Canada's Rachel Homan had a stone removed when an official ruled she had touched it after release. This occurred after World Curling deployed two umpires to monitor matches more closely.
Additional Incidents Involving Other Teams
Team GB also faced accusations during their round-robin match against Germany on Sunday. Bobby Lammie was alleged to have touched a stone after release, leading an umpire to intervene. The stone was removed from play, and British skip Bruce Mouat was instructed to return a German stone to its previous position.
Canada is scheduled to face Norway in the semifinal at 6:05pm GMT/1:05pm ET, while Great Britain will compete against undefeated Switzerland for a spot in the gold medal game. The ongoing scandal continues to cast a shadow over the Olympic curling events, raising questions about sportsmanship and competitive integrity.
