CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (Journos News) – Canada claimed Olympic men’s curling gold on Saturday, capping a turbulent fortnight marked by accusations of rule violations and an unusually public dispute between elite players. The victory at the Milan Cortina Winter Games restored focus to performance on the ice, even as questions lingered about officiating standards in the sport.
For vice-skip Marc Kennedy, the moment carried particular weight. The 44-year-old veteran had found himself at the center of allegations during the round-robin stage, when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson accused him of a “double touch” — a breach of curling rules involving contact with the stone after release. Kennedy responded with an emotional outburst that drew global attention beyond the rink.
By the time Canada defeated Britain 9–6 in the final, the controversy had become part of the tournament’s narrative — and, for the Canadians, a source of motivation.
Canada’s triumph marks its first Olympic men’s curling gold since the 2014 Sochi Games and reinforces its status as the sport’s most decorated Olympic nation.
Canada edges Britain in final
The Canadian rink, skipped by Brad Jacobs, secured control in the later stages of the match inside Cortina’s historic ice arena. A decisive ninth end, in which Canada scored three, proved pivotal after Britain’s Bruce Mouat missed a freeze attempt that might have limited the damage.
Jacobs described the team’s focus as unwavering despite the distractions. He suggested that being labeled “cheaters” in public commentary had galvanized the squad rather than unsettled it.
Kennedy, who also won Olympic gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, acknowledged that emotions had run high during the week. He said he stood up for his teammates and accepted responsibility for letting frustration spill into public view.
Canada’s lineup also included Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert, with Tyler Tardi serving as alternate. The gold medal represented Jacobs’ first Olympic appearance since 2014, having missed qualification for the 2018 and 2022 Games.
Britain’s men, meanwhile, remain without Olympic gold since curling’s debut at the inaugural Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix. Mouat’s all-Scottish team had been consistent throughout the tournament but could not overturn Canada’s late surge.
Double-touch accusations unsettle tournament
The controversy erupted during round-robin play when Sweden’s Eriksson accused Kennedy of making impermissible secondary contact with a stone after delivery. Curling traditionally relies heavily on player self-policing, though umpires monitor specific technical elements.
The allegations prompted heated exchanges and a broader debate within the sport. In response, officials briefly stationed umpires at the hog line to watch for possible infractions before reverting to established procedures in which players largely oversee adherence to rules.
Jacobs later said that the rule in question had been introduced recently and suggested that governing body officials were not fully prepared for the scrutiny it would receive on the Olympic stage. He called for a review process involving players to clarify enforcement and prevent similar disputes in future competitions.
After the incident, Canada lost its next match to Switzerland but regained momentum during the knockout phase.
The episode has highlighted tension between curling’s tradition of sportsmanship and the increasing intensity of elite competition, particularly under Olympic scrutiny. While the sport has long prided itself on mutual respect among competitors, the Milan Cortina Games underscored how quickly disagreements can escalate when medals are at stake.
Canada’s broader Olympic curling record
With the men’s gold secured and the women earning bronze earlier in the day, Canada extended its record as the most successful nation in Olympic curling. The country now has seven gold medals and 14 overall in the sport.
Kennedy’s longevity has drawn admiration from teammates and rivals alike. At 44, he remains among the top players in a discipline that demands technical precision, stamina, and tactical awareness. Alternate Tyler Tardi described Kennedy as one of the world’s best over two decades and credited his experience for helping the team navigate a difficult week.
Switzerland defeated Norway to claim bronze in the men’s event.
Canadian women earn bronze
Earlier Saturday, Canada’s women’s team, skipped by Rachel Homan, defeated the United States 10–7 to take bronze. The victory denied the American women their first Olympic curling medal.
Homan’s rink had struggled early in round-robin play, starting 1–3 before regaining form. She said the team’s resilience defined its tournament, noting that players drew closer together during challenging moments.
Sweden and Switzerland were scheduled to meet in the women’s gold medal match on Sunday.
A victory shaped by pressure
Canada’s men leave Cortina with gold medals and a tournament that may be remembered as much for debate as for results. In the aftermath, Jacobs said he hoped that critics would remember the image of the team celebrating on the podium.
For Kennedy, the triumph capped a career already defined by Olympic success. It also brought closure to a week in which accusations of cheating overshadowed competition, if only briefly.
In a sport that values quiet precision, the Milan Cortina men’s final offered a reminder that even curling is not immune to controversy — or to redemption.
Source: AP News – Canada’s curling skip tells cheating accusers to get Olympic celebration ‘burned into your brain’
