02/20/26 11:38:00
Printable Page
02/20 11:37 CST Top-ranked Canada heartbroken after upset loss to Sweden in
women's curling at the Olympics
Top-ranked Canada heartbroken after upset loss to Sweden in women's curling at
the Olympics
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) --- The top-ranked Canadian women couldn't
overcome "straighter" ice and a sharp Sweden squad, and now the country's
controversial men's team will have the curling power's last chance at Olympic
gold at the Milan Cortina Games.
With Canada already shut out of the mixed team event medals, Rachel Homan's
team was upset by Anna Hasselborg's Sweden in the semifinals Friday.
"They're heartbroken right now," Canada coach Heather Nedohin said.
Sweden, ranked No. 12, will face Switzerland for gold on Sunday.
Sweden, which has won the women's competition three times since curling
returned to the Olympic program in 1998, beat Canada 6-3.
Homan had beaten Hasselborg in all three of their previous meetings this season.
"I woke up this morning and just told the girls, ?I really believe we're
winning today,'" Hasselborg said, with one of her children in her arms and
another playing at her feet.
Silvana Tirinzoni's Switzerland beat the United States 7-4 and will be aiming
for their first women's gold at the Olympics.
The Swiss took silver behind Canada at the last two world championships after
four straight golds in the biggest curling competition outside of the Olympics.
Canada will play the U.S. for bronze on Saturday.
"Obviously disappointed, but our work is not done here," Homan said. "We're
going to come out fighting tomorrow."
The Canadians said they struggled with "straighter" ice that "made some shots
quite a bit tougher.
"But Sweden played a great game and kudos to them," Homan said.
U.S. vice skip Cory Thiesse, who already won silver in the team event with
Korey Dropkin, said she was a little surprised to be facing Canada for bronze.
"They're the No. 1 ranked team in the world. But it's the Olympics and that
pressure is hard sometimes and you just never know," Thiesse said. "Our motto
this week has just been to keep games close and you never know what is going to
happen out there."
In the men's competition, Canada faces Britain for gold on Saturday, while
Norway was playing Switzerland for bronze later Friday.
The Canadian men were the subject of a controversy that got attention far
beyond the ice when several players were accused of double-touching the rock, a
rules violation.
___
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
|
