Cheating Allegations Mar Canada's Curling Victory Over Sweden at Winter Olympics
Tensions boiled over in a dramatic round-robin curling match at the Winter Olympics on Friday, as Canada secured a heated 8-6 victory over Sweden. The intense clash was overshadowed by accusations of cheating from both sides, leading to frosty exchanges and a halt in play.
Early Disputes and Frosty Atmosphere
The trouble began early when Sweden alleged that Canadian curlers were double touching the stone after release, prompting officials to monitor the situation. In response, Canada requested similar scrutiny of Sweden's deliveries, creating a charged atmosphere between the teams. This set the stage for a contentious game that saw both sides fiercely defending their integrity.
Heated Exchange Between Players
After Sweden scored two points in the penultimate end, leaving Canada with a 7-6 lead and the hammer, tensions escalated further. Swedish third Oskar Eriksson confronted Canadian third Marc Kennedy, threatening to show him a replay of alleged stone-touching violations. Kennedy responded bluntly, telling Eriksson to "fuck off".
Reflecting on the incident, Kennedy stated, "It's good. It's sport. It's the Olympics. Both teams are trying to win. Oskar was accusing us of cheating. I didn't like it. I've been curling professionally for 25 years." He added, "I told him where to stick it. Because we're the wrong team to do that to. So I don't care."
Technological Oversight and Rule Confusion
World Curling has introduced electronic handles on stones at these Games, which flash red if players maintain contact beyond the hog line. Each handle is fitted with a touch sensor that interacts with a magnetic strip in the ice. However, Eriksson argued that Kennedy was touching the stone itself, not the sensor-equipped handle, meaning no red lights activated.
Eriksson explained, "It was obviously not a red light, but some players are touching the rock according to us. And that's not allowed... We told the officials. They came out and they misread the rules, sadly. Because they thought double touching any part of the rock is OK. And then they found out that was wrong. You can only touch the electronic part of the handle."
Post-Game Reactions and Friendship Strains
Swedish skip Niklas Edin expressed disappointment over the altercation, noting the long-standing friendships between the players. "We're all super good friends out there," Edin said. "We've known them for 20 years. And [rule violations have] happened many times before, so it's just sad that it gets to heated discussions on the ice instead of just curling, according to the rulebooks, but it's what it is."
Kennedy speculated that Sweden's frustration might stem from their 0-2 start in the title defence, with losses to Great Britain and Italy before facing Canada. "He might have been upset that he was losing," Kennedy added. "He might be upset that they're 0-2, grasping for straws. I just told him again. I said I have a ton of respect for him as a player. I've never said a bad word about Oskar Eriksson. I don't really know what he's trying to get out of it. And yeah, onward. But I'm not going to stand there and take cheating lightly."
Official Statement and Outcome
In a statement, World Curling confirmed that umpires monitored deliveries for three ends after the issue was raised, but found no hog line violations or retouches of the stone. The organization emphasized its commitment to fair play, though the incident has sparked debate over rule interpretations and sportsmanship in high-stakes Olympic competition.
This clash highlights the intense pressure and rivalries at the Winter Olympics, where every move is scrutinized. As the curling tournament progresses, teams will be under even closer watch to ensure adherence to the rules, aiming to prevent similar controversies from overshadowing the sport.
