Winter Olympics Cheating Controversy Continues to Simmer in Milan-Cortina
The cheating controversy that erupted during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina shows no signs of cooling down, with Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson once again speaking out against Canadian veteran Marc Kennedy. This heated exchange comes as Canada prepares to face Great Britain in the highly anticipated gold medal match, casting a shadow over what should be a celebratory event.
The Incident That Sparked the Controversy
The drama began during the preliminary-round match between Sweden and Canada, when Eriksson accused Kennedy of "double touching" his stone. This term refers to a curler touching the rock again after releasing it, which is against the rules. The Swedish athlete firmly believed Kennedy had committed this violation during their intense competition.
Referees thoroughly reviewed the situation during Canada's 8–6 victory over Sweden and ultimately decided no rule had been broken. Despite this official ruling, the moment exploded into a heated exchange on the ice between the athletes. World Curling Federation later issued Kennedy a verbal warning for what they termed "inappropriate language" during the confrontation.
Eriksson Stands Firm on His Accusations
Days after the incident, Oskar Eriksson remains steadfast in his position. Speaking to Swedish outlet Värmlands Folkblad, Eriksson made it clear he is not backing down from his accusations. "You don't react like that if you know you're not guilty," Eriksson stated emphatically. "I don't think he slept as well that night as I did. If he now chooses to think he did the right thing, he will have to take responsibility for it."
The Swedish curler also claimed that Kennedy avoided eye contact with him afterward, suggesting the Canadian athlete felt ashamed of his actions. "He hasn't dared to look in my direction. He's probably ashamed. Mature for a 44-year-old father of two," Eriksson added, delivering a pointed criticism of his opponent's behavior.
Kennedy's Defense and Counter-Allegations
Marc Kennedy had earlier defended himself strongly against the accusations. After the match, the Canadian veteran suggested Sweden had developed a strategic plan specifically to catch opponents at the hog line. "They have come up with a plan here at the Olympics, as far as I know, to catch teams in the act at the hog line," Kennedy claimed. "This was planned... it was kind of evident that something was going on, and they were trying to catch us in an act."
Kennedy and Canadian coach Paul Webster went further by questioning whether Sweden had been secretly filming deliveries during matches. However, officials confirmed that no rule violation occurred during the game, and television replays, while showing why Eriksson might have raised concerns, ultimately supported the referees' decision to allow the play to stand.
Broader Implications for Olympic Curling
The tension surrounding this incident has not been limited to the men's competition. In women's curling, Canada's Rachel Homan had a stone removed after an umpire ruled she touched it again after release. The World Curling Federation responded to these multiple incidents by placing extra officials between matches to closely monitor for double touches throughout the remainder of the Olympic tournament.
Team Great Britain also found themselves involved in a similar controversy when Bobby Lammie's stone was removed during a round-robin game against Germany after an umpire intervened. These multiple incidents have created a pattern of concern around the double-touch rule enforcement at the Milan-Cortina Games.
As Canada now heads into the gold medal match against Great Britain, the debate around double touching and fair play remains one of the biggest talking points of the entire Winter Olympics. The controversy has raised important questions about:
- The consistency of rule enforcement in international curling competitions
- The psychological warfare that can occur between elite athletes during high-stakes events
- The impact of such controversies on the spirit of sportsmanship at the Olympic Games
- The pressure on officials to make split-second decisions that can determine medal outcomes
This ongoing dispute between Eriksson and Kennedy has transcended a simple rules interpretation disagreement and become a symbol of the intense competitive pressures at the highest level of winter sports. With the gold medal match approaching, all eyes will be on how both teams conduct themselves and whether this controversy will affect their performance on the Olympic stage.
