In what could be the deciding moment for Canada in its quest to reclaim Olympic gold at the Milan Cortina Games, a heartbreaking loss to Sweden has left the country’s women’s curling team devastated. With all hopes for mixed event medals now extinguished, Canada’s men’s team will get their final shot at glory.
Rachel Homan and her teammates have been dealt another significant blow after falling short of the podium in Friday’s semifinals against Anna Hasselborg’s formidable Swedish squad. Coach Heather Nedohin described the players as “heartbroken.”
Despite Canada’s loss, Sweden—ranked tenth globally but a formidable force on ice—emerged victorious with a 6-3 win over the Canadians. Hasselborg, speaking in front of her children, expressed her belief that they were about to claim gold. “I believe we’re winning today,” she stated, holding onto her family amidst post-game celebrations.
Sweden’s success comes after claiming their third Olympic women’s curling title since 1998, the year curling returned to the Games. Their triumph over Hasselborg, whom they’d beaten in all three of this season’s encounters, propelled them into a showdown with Switzerland for gold.
Hasselborg’s victory not only lifted her team towards an expected gold medal but also underscored Canada’s disappointment as the top-ranked nation on the curling world stage could not advance further. Homan acknowledged their struggles, mentioning “straighter” ice conditions and shot difficulties that had complicated some of their maneuvers significantly.
Meanwhile, Switzerland continues its remarkable resurgence in women’s curling, securing silver behind Canada at recent world championships. The Swiss team, led by Silvana Tirinzoni, aims to claim their first-ever gold at the Olympics despite previous four-consecutive tournament victories. In contrast, Canada faces a grueling battle against the United States for bronze.
“We’re still fighting,” Homan emphasized, describing the upcoming match as “our last chance.” She added that while disappointed by the loss, her team would not give up until their final throw. The U.S., who previously defeated Canada in mixed doubles curling, took a narrow win over the Canadians with 4-7 and is now set for bronze.
On the men’s side of the competition, Switzerland clinched third place by beating Norway 9-1. In a shocking turn that has garnered significant attention beyond the ice, several Canadian players were accused of violating rules regarding double-touching of rocks—a violation not previously addressed widely in Olympic sports. This controversy garnered global media coverage and brought scrutiny to Team USA’s silver medal performance last week.
In an interview with CBS News, Team USA curler Korey Dropkin expressed his stance on the matter: “It’s bigger than it needs to be. There are plenty of Olympians who have done double-touches in past seasons without issues.” His colleague, British team captain Britain’s Cory Thiesse, echoed this sentiment, noting the added pressure and unpredictability that comes with competing in the Olympics.
The Canadian men face their final chance at gold on Saturday against Britain, a match that will likely define their fate. Canada’s women await their rematch against Sweden for silver or bronze while striving to recover from their setback.