The usually serene and gentlemanly atmosphere of Olympic curling shattered dramatically on Friday at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics when a high-stakes round-robin clash between Canada and Sweden spiraled into accusations of cheating, heated on-ice confrontations, profanity-laced outbursts, and a subsequent media firestorm that has gripped the global sports world.
In what many are calling one of the most explosive incidents in the sport’s modern history, Canada’s veteran third Marc Kennedy found himself at the center of controversy during Canada’s eventual 8-6 victory over defending champions Sweden. The 44-year-old Olympian, competing in his fourth Winter Games and boasting over 25 years on the professional curling circuit, was accused by Sweden’s vice-skip Oskar Eriksson of illegally “double-touching” the stone—a clear violation of curling’s strict delivery rules. What began as a routine complaint to officials quickly escalated into a shouting match captured on broadcast cameras, complete with expletives that echoed across the ice sheet and stunned viewers accustomed to curling’s reputation for politeness and mutual respect.
Curling, often described as “chess on ice,” relies on precision, strategy, and an unwritten code of honor. Players deliver 42-pound granite stones toward a target known as the house, with teammates sweeping the ice to influence the stone’s path and speed. The rules are straightforward yet rigorously enforced: during delivery, the curler must release the stone using the handle before it crosses the hog line—a thick green line roughly 21 feet from the throwing hack. Once released, no further contact with the stone is permitted, especially touching the granite body itself after the initial release. Any infraction, such as a second touch or “double-touching,” can result in the stone being removed from play or the end being nullified. The integrity of this rule is sacrosanct; even the slightest advantage from an extra nudge could alter the outcome in a sport decided by fractions of an inch.
The drama unfolded in the early ends of the match at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Italy. Swedish players, led by Eriksson, grew suspicious of Kennedy’s delivery technique. They believed he was making contact with the stone a second time as it approached or crossed the hog line, potentially giving it an unintended boost. Eriksson promptly alerted the officials, prompting a rare intervention: an umpire was stationed at the hog line to monitor Canada’s deliveries closely for the next three ends. Despite the scrutiny, no violations were called on the spot. Canada powered through, capitalizing on strong play from skip Brad Gushue and others to secure the win.
But the tension refused to dissipate. Television replays, particularly those broadcast by Swedish public broadcaster SVT, fueled the fire. Circulating clips appeared to show Kennedy’s finger brushing or touching the granite after his initial release, well past the point of legal contact. Social media erupted with analysis from curlers, fans, and even former players dissecting the angles—side views, front views, slow-motion breakdowns—many concluding it constituted multiple infractions. One detailed Reddit post from an experienced Canadian curler argued the motion was “illegal in multiple ways,” noting that contact with the granite post-release is forbidden, and if it had been on the handle, electronic hog-line sensors would have triggered an automatic removal. The post emphasized that while the extra touch might only add an inch or two, in Olympic competition where shots are executed at near-perfect precision, every millimeter matters.
Kennedy, visibly agitated, confronted Eriksson directly on the ice. Broadcast audio captured the exchange vividly. Eriksson pressed the issue, insisting on the violation. Kennedy shot back defiantly: “I haven’t done it once. You can f*** off.” When Eriksson countered by offering to show video evidence—”I’ll show you a video after the game. I’ll show you a video where it’s two meters over the hog line”—Kennedy doubled down: “Come on, Oskar. Just f*** off.”
The profanity, rare in a sport where players traditionally congratulate opponents with handshakes and “good game” salutes even in defeat, shocked observers. Yet Kennedy showed no immediate remorse. Post-match, he clashed again—this time with a Swedish reporter questioning his language and respect for the game. In a heated response reported by outlets including the National Post, Kennedy snapped: “You’ve never seen two guys have a heated argument before? 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.”
He went further, suggesting the incident might actually benefit curling’s profile. “I’ve got friends from back home who aren’t huge curling fans, they’re like, ‘what’s going on?’ I’ve got my daughter texting me ‘Marc’s getting spicy out there!’ It shines a little extra light on the sport. Sometimes that’s not a bad thing.”
Eriksson, for his part, stood firm on principle. “We want a game that is as sportsmanlike, honest and clean as possible,” he said. Dismissing Kennedy’s outburst as “on him,” Eriksson reiterated that he had raised the issue with umpires because he believed touches occurred on or after the hog line—precisely what the rules prohibit.
World Curling, the sport’s international governing body, acted swiftly. On Saturday, officials met with Canadian team representatives and issued a verbal warning to both the team and Kennedy personally for the inappropriate language. The statement made clear that any further misconduct could lead to escalated sanctions, including potential suspensions. Crucially, they confirmed the on-ice monitoring found no rule violations during the observed ends, meaning no stones were removed and the result stood.
This was not an isolated accusation against Canada at these Games. Reports emerged of similar double-touching claims leveled against the Canadian women’s team in subsequent matches, amplifying the narrative of a broader controversy surrounding the nation’s curling program. The men’s incident, however, drew the most attention due to the raw emotion on display and the involvement of high-profile veterans like Kennedy and Eriksson.
Kennedy later reflected on the footage in interviews, admitting uncertainty in the heat of the moment: “If somebody said to you, ‘Hey, do you double-touch all the time?’ I honestly, in that split second of a moment, I couldn’t even tell you if I do or not.” He speculated that Sweden’s approach felt like “premeditated planning to try to catch us,” hinting at strategic gamesmanship amid the pressure of Olympic competition.
The episode has sparked intense debate within the curling community. Purists argue that any infraction, intentional or not, undermines the sport’s integrity—no excuses, no gray areas. Others point out that deliveries evolve, and subtle habits can creep in without malice. Electronic hog-line detectors, which beep for handle contact violations, don’t catch granite touches, leaving judgment to human officials and video review. In this case, despite replays suggesting otherwise to many viewers, officials sided with no breach.
For curling enthusiasts, the incident represents a rare intrusion of raw human emotion into a sport built on decorum. Kennedy’s outburst, Eriksson’s steadfast insistence on fairness, and the ensuing media frenzy have thrust curling into headlines far beyond its usual niche audience. Whether it ultimately damages or elevates the sport remains to be seen—Kennedy himself sees a silver lining in the added spotlight.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue, all eyes will watch Canada’s remaining matches. Will the warning deter further incidents, or has this opened the door to more scrutiny of delivery techniques across teams? One thing is certain: the quiet world of curling has rarely felt so loud, so contentious, or so riveting. The controversy surrounding Marc Kennedy and the double-touch allegations serves as a stark reminder that even in the most polite of sports, passion can ignite into fire—and when it does, the entire arena feels the heat.
