Canadian Curling Star Accuses Sweden of 'Premeditated' Olympic Cheating Setup
Canadian curling star Marc Kennedy has ignited a major controversy at the Winter Olympics by accusing Sweden of implementing a 'premeditated plan' to catch the Canadian team cheating. The 44-year-old athlete, who found himself at the centre of a cheating storm, has now launched a fresh swipe at Swedish tactics, claiming they deliberately set up cameras to target Canada.
The Incident That Sparked the Row
Last Friday, during a high-stakes match, Kennedy was accused by Swedish player Oskar Eriksson of a double touch violation—touching his stone beyond the hog line. In response, Kennedy erupted in a profanity-laden outburst, telling Eriksson to 'f*** off' and vehemently denying any wrongdoing. Eriksson retorted that he would show video evidence after the game, alleging the infraction occurred two metres over the hog line.
Despite the heated exchange, Canada triumphed with an 8-6 victory. However, Kennedy received a verbal warning from World Curling for his use of inappropriate language, though he was not formally charged with cheating. Reflecting on the incident, Kennedy admitted he 'probably could have handled it better' but defended his actions, stating, 'I'm not going to apologise for defending my team-mates and standing up for myself.'
Allegations of a Coordinated Strategy
Kennedy has since escalated his claims, asserting that Sweden devised a calculated strategy to catch teams in the act. '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,' he stated. He and coach Paul Webster accused Sweden of installing cameras specifically to monitor Canada, suggesting this was not an isolated incident. 'This was planned... it was kind of evident that something was going on, and they were trying to catch us in an act,' Kennedy added.
In a further twist, Sweden responded by claiming they have raised concerns about alleged Canadian cheating for seven or eight years. Swedish curler Niklas Edin commented, 'We've been saying this for maybe seven, eight years or something.' He explained that media crews placed cameras on the hog line to investigate, framing it as a response to long-standing issues rather than a targeted attack.
Broader Implications and Additional Incidents
The controversy has extended beyond the men's team, with Canada's women's team also facing accusations. During their match against Switzerland, Rachel Homan was accused of a similar violation, though she insisted on her innocence. Additionally, in another match against Switzerland, Pablo Lachat-Couchepin alleged he witnessed a double tap from Canada, expressing frustration over rule enforcement. 'When you have a referee on the ice and he is looking at it, then he should see it,' he said, emphasising that his concerns were about compliance rather than personal animosity.
Kennedy's allegations have sparked debates about the 'spirit of curling' and the integrity of Olympic competition. As the row continues, it highlights the intense emotions and high stakes involved in elite sports, with potential implications for future rule changes and monitoring practices in curling.
