The curling competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has reached a fever pitch as of 17 February 2026, dominated by a high-stakes “double-touch” controversy that has threatened the sport’s long-standing culture of self-officiating. While Canada’s rinks have battled through a week of intense scrutiny and rule reversals, both the men’s and women’s teams remain firmly in the hunt for playoff positions at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
The “Double-Touch” Scandal and Rule Reversal
The tournament was upended following a match between Canada and Sweden on 13 February, where allegations of “double-touching” the stone during delivery surfaced. The controversy, which initially saw World Curling attempt to increase umpire intervention, sparked a “cheating” row that dominated international headlines. However, in a significant victory for the traditional “Spirit of Curling,” World Curling recently reversed its stance on stricter officiating, returning primary responsibility to the athletes—a move welcomed by the Canadian camp after what was described as a “double-touch disaster.”
Men’s Tournament: Team Jacobs on the Rise
Skip Brad Jacobs and his Calgary-based rink have shown remarkable resilience amidst the off-ice drama. After a challenging weekend that saw a 9-5 loss to the undefeated Swiss team, Jacobs bounced back with a clinical 6-3 victory over China. As of Tuesday, the standings reflect a fierce battle for the top four:
- Switzerland: Remains the sole unbeaten team (5-0) after defeating Great Britain in an extra-end thriller.
- Canada: Currently sits at 4-1, tied for second place and well-positioned for the semi-finals.
- Sweden: The defending champions are facing a crisis, with their title defence in jeopardy after a fifth round-robin defeat against Germany.
Women’s Tournament: Homan’s Playoff Push
On the women’s side, reigning world champion Rachel Homan has successfully navigated a turbulent round-robin stage. After suffering a surprising upset at the hands of the United States, Team Homan secured two consecutive wins to get their playoff bid back on track. Today, 17 February, features a marquee matchup as Homan faces Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg, a game with major implications for the final seeding.
Historical Context
Curling’s journey to the 2026 Games is rooted in a storied Olympic history. While it debuted at the inaugural 1924 Chamonix Games, it spent decades as a demonstration sport (1932, 1988, 1992) before being reinstated as a full medal sport at the 1998 Nagano Games. Canada remains the most successful nation in the sport’s history, though the 2026 Games have highlighted the increasing parity and competitive depth of European and Asian programmes.
With the round-robin stage nearing its conclusion, the focus in Cortina shifts from officiating controversies to the ice, where Canada, Switzerland, and Italy currently lead the charge toward the podium.