The Canadian Olympic curling teams have found themselves embroiled in a heated controversy over accusations of cheating, with allegations of double-touching stones sparking profane outbursts, official warnings, and disturbing harassment targeting athletes' families on social media.
Men's Team Accusations and Explosive Response
During a match, Sweden's Oskar Eriksson accused Canada's men's curling team of double-touching stones—a violation that results in the immediate removal of the stone from play. The allegation prompted a furious reaction from Canadian curler Marc Kennedy, a four-time Olympian, who responded with expletive-laden retorts.
"I haven't done it once, you f*** off," Kennedy fired back at Eriksson. "Don't chirp." When Eriksson offered to show video evidence of the potential infraction, Kennedy told him to "f*** off" once again. Subsequent video replays from the Olympic competition appear to show Kennedy committing the double-touch violation during that very match.
Fallout Extends Beyond the Ice
The controversy has escalated far beyond the curling rink, with Kennedy's wife becoming the target of harassment on social media platforms. This disturbing development prompted a public response from Canadian curling officials, who condemned the attacks on athletes' families.
"There has been some offside stuff that has come to (Kennedy's) wife's social media, which is crap," Curling Canada CEO Nolan Thiessen told CBC. "These guys are human beings, and their families need to be left out of it."
Official Warnings and Continued Tensions
World Curling issued an official statement acknowledging they had warned Canadian officials about the team's inappropriate language during the incident. The international governing body emphasized that any "further inappropriate behavior" could result in suspensions for the athletes involved.
Despite the teams shaking hands after the confrontation, tensions continued as Kennedy and Eriksson walked to their respective dressing rooms. Eriksson emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, stating, "We want a game that is as sportsmanlike, honest and clean as possible," in remarks translated from Swedish after the match.
Kennedy's Reflection and Women's Team Allegations
In the immediate aftermath, Kennedy called the claims "horses**t" but later reflected on his reaction during a Sunday interview with CBC. "My whole life I've been a little bit like that if my integrity gets questioned. We're human out there. Lots of emotions. No question I could've handled it better though," Kennedy acknowledged.
The controversy extends beyond the men's team, with the Canadian women's curling team also facing accusations of double-touching. During a match against Switzerland, Canadian skip Rachel Homan had a stone removed due to an alleged double-touch violation. Homan vehemently denied the accusation, stating, "I've never done it in my life."
Current Standings and Tournament Implications
Despite the controversy, Kennedy and the Canadian men's team are performing strongly in the competition, sitting second in the round-robin standings with an impressive 5-1 record as they steam toward a playoff appearance. The Canadian women's team faces greater challenges, currently sixth in the round-robin after five games with a 2-3 record that leaves them with considerable work to do in their pursuit of a medal.
The Swiss curling team has joined Sweden in accusing Canadian teams of double-touching violations, adding international dimension to the allegations that have cast a shadow over Canada's Olympic curling campaign.
