Team GB's Curling Hopes Hang in the Balance at Winter Olympics 2026
Team GB's Curling Hopes Hang in Balance at Winter Olympics

Team GB's Curling Hopes Hang in the Balance at Winter Olympics 2026

Team GB's men and women are locked in a fierce battle to advance from the round robin stage at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with their semi-final dreams resting on the outcomes of crucial closing matches. Both squads require favourable results from other games to secure top-four positions and progress to the play-offs, setting the stage for a dramatic finale in the curling competition.

Men's Team: A Rollercoaster Journey

The men's team, skipped by Bruce Mouat, has experienced a turbulent campaign. After a 9-5 defeat by Canada on Tuesday evening—a match overshadowed by weekend cheating accusations involving the Canadian team—they rebounded impressively with a 9-2 victory over the USA on Wednesday afternoon, concluding after just six ends. This win keeps their medal hopes alive, but their fate is now out of their hands.

Mouat's rink currently holds a 5-4 record and must rely on external help to clinch a play-off berth. They need either Norway or Italy to lose their final matches on Thursday morning. Italy faces unbeaten Switzerland, while Norway takes on already-qualified Canada, offering a glimmer of hope for Team GB.

Women's Team: Remarkable Resilience

The women's team, led by skip Sophie Jackson, also faces an uphill battle but has shown remarkable resilience. They snatched a stunning 8-7 victory against the USA on Wednesday morning, followed by a commanding 9-3 thrashing of Japan in the evening. These wins have kept their semi-final aspirations intact heading into the final round robin fixtures.

With a 4-4 record, the women must secure a win in their last match and hope other results align to finish inside the top four. Sweden and Switzerland have already qualified, intensifying the competition for the remaining spots.

Schedule and Standings Overview

Here is a detailed look at the schedule, results, and current standings for both teams:

Men's Winter Olympics Curling

Round Robin Fixtures (All times GMT):

  • 19 February: Italy v Switzerland, 08:05
  • 19 February: Norway v Canada, 08:05

Round Robin Results:

  1. 11 February: China 4-9 Great Britain
  2. 12 February: Great Britain 6-3 Sweden
  3. 13 February: Great Britain 7-9 Italy
  4. 14 February: Czech Republic 4-7 Great Britain
  5. 15 February: Germany 4-9 Great Britain
  6. 15 February: Great Britain 5-6 Switzerland
  7. 16 February: Great Britain 6-7 Norway
  8. 17 February: Canada 9-5 Great Britain
  9. 18 February: USA 2-9 Great Britain

Current Standings (Top 4 advance): Switzerland and Canada have already qualified. Team GB sits with 5 wins and 4 losses, needing Norway or Italy to lose to move up.

Women's Winter Olympics Curling

Round Robin Fixtures (All times GMT):

  • 19 February: Great Britain v Italy, 13:05

Round Robin Results:

  1. 12 February: China 7-4 Great Britain
  2. 13 February: Great Britain 3-9 Republic of Korea
  3. 14 February: Great Britain 7-6 Canada
  4. 15 February: Great Britain 7-10 Sweden
  5. 16 February: Denmark 2-7 Great Britain
  6. 16 February: Switzerland 10-6 Great Britain
  7. 17 February: Switzerland 10-6 Great Britain
  8. 18 February: USA 7-8 Great Britain
  9. 18 February: Great Britain 9-3 Japan

Current Standings (Top 4 advance): Sweden and Switzerland have already qualified. Team GB holds a 4-4 record, with their fate dependent on final match outcomes.

What Team GB Need to Qualify

For the men's team, after beating the USA to finish with a 5-4 record, they now require either Norway to lose to Canada or Italy to lose to Switzerland in Thursday morning's games. If either Norway or Italy wins, they will tie with GB at 5-4 but advance due to head-to-head advantages.

The women's team must win their final match against Italy and hope other results fall in their favour to secure a top-four position. The competition remains tight, with several teams vying for the remaining play-off spots.

Play-Off Round and Squad Details

Men's Play-Off Schedule:

  • 19 February: Semi-finals
  • 20 February: Bronze medal match
  • 21 February: Gold medal game

Men's Squad in Full: Skip: Bruce Mouat, Third: Grant Hardie, Second: Bobby Lammie, Lead: Hammy McMillan Jr., Alternate: Kyle Waddell.

Women's Play-Off Schedule:

  • 20 February: Semi-finals
  • 21 February: Bronze medal match
  • 22 February: Gold medal game

Women's Squad in Full: Skip: Sophie Jackson, Third: Jennifer Dodds, Second: Sophie Sinclair, Fourth: Rebecca Morrison, Alternate: Fay Henderson.

As the round robin stage concludes, all eyes are on Cortina for what promises to be a thrilling climax to Team GB's curling campaign at the Winter Olympics 2026.