It was a chilly Friday in Cortina d’Ampezzo, but the action on the ice was anything but cold as the mixed doubles curling tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics delivered another round of drama and surprises. South Korea’s hopes took yet another hit, while Britain’s dynamic duo continued their flawless march, and the overall competition heated up with every stone thrown.
South Korea’s team of Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok entered the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium seeking redemption after a string of tough losses. But instead, they found themselves facing a red-hot British pair, Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, who were in no mood to show mercy. The result? An 8-2 defeat that marked South Korea’s fourth consecutive loss in the round-robin stage, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the standings with an 0-4 record.
“We’ve dug ourselves a big hole,” admitted a visibly disappointed Kim Seon-yeong after the match, echoing the sentiments of fans and coaches alike. The South Koreans never managed to seize the lead, with Britain snatching two points in the first end and another in the second, setting the tone early. South Korea managed to claw back a single point in the third, but Britain responded with ruthless efficiency, adding two points each in the fourth and fifth ends. By the time the scoreboard read 7-1, the writing was on the wall. Britain cruised to an easy victory, and the Koreans could only watch as their Olympic dreams slipped further away.
The loss wasn’t just a blow to national pride—it put South Korea in a precarious position in the 10-team competition. With only the top four teams advancing to the semifinals after nine round-robin matches, the road ahead looks daunting. And it doesn’t get any easier: their next opponents are the United States, currently undefeated at 4-0, and Canada, sitting comfortably at 3-1. Ouch! The pressure is mounting, and the margin for error has all but vanished.
But there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Up next for South Korea is a clash against the Czech Republic, the only other winless team in the tournament at 0-4. It’s a must-win game for both squads—a chance to salvage pride and perhaps spark a late rally. Can Kim and Jeong turn things around, or will the Czech duo add to their woes? That question will be answered soon enough as the round-robin stage barrels forward.
Meanwhile, the British tandem of Dodds and Mouat are on a roll. Their victory over South Korea capped off a perfect day that began with a 7-4 win against Sweden’s Rasmus and Isabella Wranaa in the morning session. With five wins from five games, Britain sits atop the standings, their eyes firmly set on the semifinals and beyond.
“Last time was crazy, everyone was beating everyone, whereas this time it seems like everything’s gone by what the odds might suggest,” Mouat reflected, referencing the unpredictable nature of the previous Olympic tournament. “We’re probably looking at making sure we get to six wins, that is probably going to guarantee it, but with a lot of the top teams beating each other, it might even be tough to get through on 6-3.” According to Mouat, the bar for qualification is higher than ever, and there’s little room for complacency.
Britain’s dominance isn’t the only storyline making waves. The United States, the only other unbeaten team after three days of competition, enjoyed a stellar Friday as well. Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse started their day with a thrilling 7-5 victory over Canada, a match that swung back and forth before Thiesse sealed it with a clutch shot in front of an enthusiastic crowd—featuring none other than rapper Snoop Dogg, who brought a touch of celebrity flair to the proceedings. The Americans then followed up with a commanding 8-1 win over the Czech Republic, solidifying their status as serious gold medal contenders.
Italy, the reigning Olympic champions, showed resilience after suffering their first loss of the tournament to Canada the previous day. Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner bounced back in style, first dispatching Switzerland with a lopsided 12-4 victory in just six ends, then holding off Estonia for a 7-4 win. “After the loss yesterday, it was good to come back this morning and then this afternoon, we had a good day with two wins on board,” Mosaner said. “We are pretty happy about our performance, but we can still adjust some things.” Italy’s ability to regroup and refocus demonstrates why they remain a force to be reckoned with as the tournament progresses.
Norway, too, made headlines on Friday. Two-time Olympic medallists Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten, who had stumbled out of the gate with three straight losses, breathed new life into their campaign by blanking Sweden 9-0. The Norwegian pair’s experience and tenacity could make them a dark horse as the competition moves forward. With the round-robin stage continuing on Saturday, every game now carries extra weight, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Looking back, the round-robin format has always been a test of consistency and mental fortitude. At the Beijing Games in 2022, Sweden’s Almida de Val and Oskar Eriksson advanced to the semifinals with five wins from nine matches. But, as Mouat pointed out, the landscape is different this time. With so many top teams in form and the standings tightening, even six wins might not be enough to guarantee a spot in the next round. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and every stone counts.
For South Korea, the immediate focus is on breaking their losing streak and restoring confidence. Their matchup against the Czech Republic is more than just a battle for pride—it’s an opportunity to reset and perhaps play spoiler in the tournament’s final stretch. The team’s spirit will be put to the test, and fans back home will be watching closely, hoping for a spark that could ignite a late surge.
As the mixed doubles curling tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics rolls on, one thing is clear: the ice in Cortina d’Ampezzo is unforgiving, and only the sharpest teams will survive the pressure cooker of round-robin play. Britain and the United States have set the pace, but with several matches still to come, there’s plenty of time for twists, turns, and upsets. South Korea’s journey has been rocky so far, but the story isn’t over yet—and in Olympic curling, anything can happen.
With the next round of matches looming, all eyes are on Cortina. Will the favorites hold their nerve, or will the underdogs rise to the occasion? The action continues Saturday, and the quest for Olympic glory remains as unpredictable as ever.