Marc Kennedy fires back after Olympic curling controversy as Canadian star warns rivals following heated clash

Tension rose quickly at the Winter Olympics after Canadian curler Marc Kennedy was pulled into a heated dispute during Canada’s match with Sweden. The moment came after Swedish players questioned whether Kennedy had touched his delivery more than once, which is not allowed in curling. Cameras caught the emotional reaction, and the incident immediately became one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament. After the match, Kennedy said he felt his honesty was being challenged, and that is why he reacted so strongly.

A day later, Kennedy spoke again but this time in a calmer tone. He said he regrets the language he used but does not regret standing up for himself and his team. The Canadian veteran explained that after many years in the sport, being accused of gaining an unfair advantage hit him hard. World Curling later confirmed that he received a verbal warning and said further problems could lead to stronger action.

Marc Kennedy and Oskar Eriksson dispute adds drama to Olympic curling competition

Kennedy said the accusations surprised him because, in his view, he has never tried to break rules during his long career.

Speaking to reporters, he explained, “When my integrity has been questioned, sometimes that’s the response I have. I can’t think of once in my entire career where I’ve done something to gain a competitive advantage. I take that very seriously.”

He added that he does not regret defending his teammates, but he does wish he had used better words. The dispute happened during Canada’s 8-6 win over Sweden, where Kennedy and Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson exchanged sharp comments.



Kennedy later claimed Sweden had a plan to closely watch opponents for rule violations, saying it felt like they were trying to catch teams making mistakes.

Eriksson did not try to calm the situation afterward. He said, “I don’t think he has slept too well, while I slept like a baby. He has not apologised.”

While the argument grabbed headlines, the competition continued. Canada then lost 9-5 to Switzerland, while Britain’s Bruce Mouat led his team to a 7-4 win over the Czech Republic, moving higher in the standings.

Sophie Jackson’s women’s team also recorded a close 7-6 victory over Canada after starting with two losses.

The controversy has added pressure to an already intense Olympic tournament, and Kennedy made it clear that while he plans to stay calmer, he will still defend himself if his honesty is questioned again.





Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.