Double-Touch Allegations Rock Olympic Curling Scene
Canadian teams at center of delivery technique scrutiny as officials crack down on stone contact violations – February 15, 2026
The curling world is buzzing with controversy at the Milano Cortina Olympics as delivery technique has come under intense scrutiny. Multiple teams, including both Canadian squads, have been penalized for double-touching violations, sparking heated debates about enforcement and fairness.
The Incidents
The situation began Friday when Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson called out Canada’s Marc Kennedy for allegedly touching the stone twice during his delivery. Kennedy responded with a profanity-laced denial that made international headlines. However, footage from Swedish broadcaster SVT appeared to show contact after the initial release. Canada won that match 8-6, but the controversy was just beginning.
Switzerland raised similar concerns Saturday during their 9-5 victory over Brad Jacobs’ Calgary-based rink. The distractions may have affected Canada’s performance, with Kennedy posting his worst shot success percentage of the tournament.
The women’s side wasn’t spared either. An official stopped play during Canada’s match against Switzerland to remove a stone delivered by Rachel Homan, citing a double-touch violation. Homan appeared stunned and disputed the call. Social media footage seemed to capture the infraction, and Canada fell 8-7 in an extra-end heartbreaker.
By Sunday, Britain’s Bobby Lammie had a stone removed in their match against Germany for the same violation, showing that scrutiny has expanded beyond the Canadian teams.
Understanding the Rule
World Curling issued a clarification statement: “During forward motion, touching the granite of the stone is not allowed. This will result in the stone being removed from play.”
While the rule is straightforward, enforcement has historically been inconsistent, making the current crackdown notable.
The Canadian Response
Kennedy admitted he couldn’t definitively say whether he double-touches in the heat of delivery. He suggested the accusations might be “premeditated planning to try to catch us,” adding that teams have “come up with a plan to catch teams in the act.”
While Kennedy acknowledged he could have handled the confrontation more professionally, he later apologized specifically for his language choice.
Homan took a different approach, suggesting she was unfairly targeted due to the men’s controversy. “I don’t understand the call. I’ll never understand it. We’ve never done that,” she stated. “It has nothing to do with us.”
Why It Matters
Curling has long prided itself on sportsmanship and self-policing. While the sport has weathered equipment controversies before—most notably Broomgate in 2015—allegations of rule violations cut deeper in a game built on integrity and honor.
For Canada, the stakes are both competitive and cultural. As the sport’s dominant nation and largest market, having their integrity questioned on the Olympic stage stings. The Canadian mixed doubles team already missed the medal rounds, and the women’s team needs wins to stay alive in the competition.
The friction between traditionally friendly rivals adds another layer. Canadian and Swedish curlers have long respected each other’s abilities despite fierce competition. The current animosity represents a departure from curling’s collegial culture.
Looking Ahead
Both Canadian teams face challenging paths forward. Kennedy indicated they’ll “make some adjustments, release-wise, if we have to,” but the mental game may prove equally challenging.
The men’s team rebounded somewhat after their difficult Saturday, but inconsistency remains a concern. A potential semifinals matchup between Canada and Sweden would be appointment viewing.
With officials now scrutinizing deliveries across all matches, every team will need to be mindful of their stone contact. The question is whether this represents a permanent shift in enforcement or an Olympic-specific crackdown that will fade after the Games.
One thing is certain: the curling community will be watching every delivery with new intensity for the remainder of the competition.
The Canadian men and women’s teams continue round-robin play this week as they fight for playoff positioning.
