South Korea's mixed doubles curling team delivered a spirited performance in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, notching their second consecutive win in the round-robin stage. On February 8, 2026, Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok overcame Estonia's Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill with a resounding 9-3 victory at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, a result that showcased the duo's resilience and tactical prowess on the ice.
The South Korean pair entered this match riding the momentum of a nail-biting 6-5 win over the United States just a day earlier. That triumph marked their first victory in the tournament after a rocky start, having dropped their initial five matches. But as any curling fan knows, momentum can be a powerful force, and Kim and Jeong wasted no time asserting themselves against Estonia.
Right from the first end, Kim Seon-yeong set the tone with a masterful double takeout using her final stone, catapulting South Korea to an early 3-0 lead. The precision of her shot was a clear statement—South Korea was determined to keep their Olympic hopes flickering, no matter how slim the odds.
Estonia, for their part, struggled to keep pace. In the second end, Kaldvee's attempt at a draw fell short, leaving two South Korean stones nestled near the button. That misstep allowed Kim and Jeong to tack on another two points, extending their lead to 5-0 and putting the pressure squarely on their Estonian counterparts.
The third end saw Estonia finally get on the board, but South Korea responded in kind. Kim's deft draw in the fourth end earned her team two more points, pushing the score to 7-1. The South Korean duo seemed to be in total command, executing their shots with confidence and composure.
Estonia managed to claw back a point in the fifth end, but their hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed. In the sixth end, Kim delivered a clearing shot that netted two additional points, giving South Korea a commanding 9-2 advantage. With only two ends remaining, the Estonian team faced a near-insurmountable deficit.
To their credit, Estonia managed one more point in the seventh end. However, recognizing the uphill battle and the quality of their opponents, they conceded the match with one end left to play. The handshake between the teams was a nod to the spirit of sportsmanship that defines Olympic curling.
With this victory, South Korea improved their round-robin record to two wins and five losses. While the win streak is a welcome boost, it leaves Kim and Jeong unlikely to break into the top four of the ten-team field and reach the semifinals. Still, these back-to-back victories have injected a sense of pride and optimism into the South Korean camp.
"We wanted to build on the momentum from our win against the United States," Kim Seon-yeong said after the match, her relief and satisfaction evident. "Every game at the Olympics is special, and we just focused on playing our best curling. Today, everything clicked for us."
The Olympic curling schedule in Cortina d'Ampezzo is jam-packed, running from February 4 to February 22, 2026. The mixed doubles event, in particular, has drawn attention for its fast-paced, strategic gameplay. Curling fans worldwide have been tuning in, eager to see whether traditional powerhouses like Canada, Sweden, and Great Britain can hold off emerging challengers—including South Korea, which has made significant strides in the sport over recent years.
For those looking to catch the action live, there are plenty of options. Free streaming of the 2026 Winter Olympic curling events is available on a host of international platforms, including 9Now in Australia, CBC Gem in Canada, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and several others. While these services are geo-restricted, viewers can use VPN services such as ExpressVPN to bypass those limitations and enjoy the games from anywhere in the world. ExpressVPN, for example, boasts servers in 105 countries, fast connection speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee—making it a popular choice among sports fans eager to catch every stone thrown in Cortina.
Back on the ice, the South Korean duo faces a tough road ahead. Later on February 8, Kim and Jeong are set to take on Canada's Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant. That matchup carries a unique subplot: Brett Gallant is the son of Peter Gallant, the former coach of the South Korean women's national team. Kim Seon-yeong played under Peter Gallant's guidance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, adding a personal twist to the upcoming contest.
Looking beyond Canada, South Korea will wrap up their round-robin campaign against Norway on February 9. While a spot in the semifinals may be out of reach, these remaining matches offer valuable experience and a chance to finish the tournament on a high note. For Kim and Jeong, every end is an opportunity to showcase their skill and determination on the Olympic stage.
It's worth noting that curling's popularity has surged in South Korea in recent years, fueled by the women's team's silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and continued success on the international circuit. The nation's curling program has invested in youth development, coaching, and infrastructure, aiming to close the gap with traditional curling heavyweights.
In the broader Olympic curling landscape, the men's event sees Sweden defending their title, while Great Britain and Canada remain perennial favorites. On the women's side, Great Britain is looking to defend their crown against a formidable field that includes Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, and, yes, South Korea. The strategic nature of curling—where a single shot can swing the momentum—means that upsets are always possible, and no team can afford to let their guard down.
As the round-robin phase heads toward its conclusion, fans are keeping a close eye on the standings and the potential matchups in the knockout rounds. For now, South Korea's mixed doubles team has given their supporters reason to cheer, demonstrating grit and growth on the Olympic ice.
With two matches left in the round-robin, Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok are determined to play spoiler and finish strong. Their journey in Cortina d'Ampezzo may not end with a medal, but their recent victories have underscored the unpredictable and thrilling nature of Olympic curling. As the stones keep sliding and the brooms keep sweeping, the world watches—wondering what surprises the next end will bring.