Canadian Women Upset by Sweden in Curling Semifinals at Olympics

The top-ranked Canadian women’s curling team faced a surprising defeat against Sweden in the semifinals of the Milan Cortina Games on February 17, 2024. The loss, marked by a final score of 6-3, means that Canada will not compete for gold in the women’s event, leaving the nation’s hopes resting on the men’s team.

Canada’s team, led by skip Rachel Homan, struggled with the “straighter” ice conditions, which made executing shots considerably more challenging. Coach Heather Nedohin reflected on the disappointment, stating, “They’re heartbroken right now.” This loss follows a series of victories for Homan against Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg, having beaten her in all three previous meetings this season.

In a moment filled with emotion, Hasselborg, who carried one child in her arms and had another playing at her feet, expressed confidence before the match. “I woke up this morning and just told the girls, ‘I really believe we’re winning today,'” she said.

Sweden, ranked No. 12, will now face Switzerland for the gold medal. Switzerland advanced to the finals by defeating the United States 7-4, aiming for their first Olympic gold in women’s curling. The Swiss team had previously secured silver medals at the last two world championships, finishing just behind Canada.

Canada’s journey is not over yet, as they will compete against the United States for the bronze medal on Saturday, February 18. The U.S. women’s team recently made headlines by defeating Canada for the first time in history, adding an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming match. Homan acknowledged the challenges, saying, “Obviously disappointed, but our work is not done here. We’re going to come out fighting tomorrow.”

The Canadian team cited the ice conditions as a significant factor impacting their performance. “The straighter ice made some shots quite a bit tougher,” Homan noted, while also praising Sweden’s gameplay. U.S. vice skip Cory Thiesse, who previously won silver in the mixed team event, expressed surprise at facing Canada for the bronze, stating, “They’re the No. 1 ranked team in the world. But it’s the Olympics, and that pressure is hard sometimes.”

In the men’s competition, Canada is still in the running for gold. They will face Britain after the Canadian men’s team routed Norway 9-1 to secure their place in the final. This team has faced controversy over allegations of double-touching the rock, a violation of curling rules. In a recent interview, U.S. curler Korey Dropkin commented on the situation, suggesting that the controversy had been exaggerated, noting, “Throughout the last few seasons, truly there’s been a lot of athletes that have done this, and it hasn’t really been brought up.”

As the curling tournament progresses, the focus shifts to the final matches, where both the Canadian men’s team and the women’s team will seek to leave their mark in the competition.