Curling Feud Lingers Months After Olympics

Canadian skip says Swedish team is 'nothing to me' as double-touch controversy continues

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a curling match broken down into overlapping planes of ice, stones, and brooms in vibrant blue, red, and yellow colors, capturing the intensity and complexity of the ongoing feud between elite curling teams.The heated rivalry between top curling teams exposes tensions over rules and officiating, fracturing the sport's gentlemanly reputation.Milan Today

The double-touch controversy from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics is still a sore subject for some curlers, with the Canadian and Swedish teams trading barbs months later. Swedish third Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian third Marc Kennedy of illegally touching stones, leading to a heated exchange. The issue has sparked debate over the rules and whether small finger touches can significantly impact a stone's trajectory. The rivalry between the teams has continued, with Canadian skip Brad Jacobs saying the Swedish team is 'nothing to me' and that the Olympics controversy was not handled properly.

Why it matters

Curling is traditionally seen as a gentlemanly sport, so this ongoing feud between top teams highlights the intensity of competition at the highest levels. The controversy also raises questions about the sport's rules and officiating, which could impact the integrity of matches going forward. If the rivalry continues to simmer, it could also boost curling's popularity outside of the Olympic spotlight.

The details

During the 2026 Olympics, Swedish third Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian third Marc Kennedy of double-touching stones, leading to a heated exchange between the players. World Curling introduced electronic handles on the stones to help detect illegal touches, but touching the granite itself would not trigger the sensors. Eriksson believes small finger touches can significantly influence a stone's path, while the Canadians argue the Swedes' actions were not handled properly. The rivalry has continued, with Canadian skip Brad Jacobs saying the Swedish team is 'nothing to me' and that 'something needs to happen' regarding accountability.

  • In February 2026, the double-touch controversy occurred during round-robin action at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
  • In the aftermath, World Curling temporarily increased umpire monitoring but later eased back on the surveillance.
  • In April 2026, the feud was still ongoing, with comments from Eriksson and Jacobs at the new Rock League professional curling event.

The players

Oskar Eriksson

A Swedish curler who is the third on the Swedish national team and was involved in the double-touch controversy with the Canadian team at the 2026 Olympics.

Marc Kennedy

A Canadian curler who was accused by Eriksson of double-touching stones during the 2026 Olympics.

Brad Jacobs

The skip of the Canadian curling team that won gold at the 2026 Olympics.

Niklas Edin

The skip of the Swedish national curling team, which includes Oskar Eriksson and won gold at the 2026 World Curling Championship.

Matt Dunstone

The skip of the Canadian curling team that defeated Brad Jacobs' team at the 2026 Canadian national championship, denying them a spot in the World Curling Championship.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of people have been talking about, like, 'You can't do anything with a finger on a 20-kilo granite rock.' But when it's moving, it's quite easy to give it a small push, and you can actually change the angle quite a bit more than the speed. So [Swedish media] wanted to see how big of a difference you can make with just a small touch with the finger.”

— Oskar Eriksson, Swedish curler

“Something needs to happen here. There needs to be accountability. Everything that happened at the Olympics with this controversy was not handled properly, starting from the top down.”

— Brad Jacobs, Canadian curling skip

“They're nothing to me. It's quite simple, I act like they don't exist. I'm very unhappy with all of their actions and things they've done recently.”

— Brad Jacobs, Canadian curling skip

What’s next

The World Curling Federation may need to review its rules and officiating procedures to address the ongoing controversy and ensure the integrity of the sport.

The takeaway

This curling feud highlights the intense competition and high stakes at the elite level of the sport, as well as the need for clear and consistently enforced rules to maintain the gentlemanly spirit of curling. The rivalry could boost the sport's popularity, but the governing body must act to resolve the underlying issues.