In the opening match of the women’s curling tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Canada’s Rachel Homan led her team to a decisive 10-4 victory over Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont. This game took place at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
Game Highlights
Both teams started cautiously, adjusting to the ice conditions in their round-robin opener. Early exchanges resulted in a few points for each side before Canada dominated the fifth end. Without the hammer, Homan’s team scored four points, significantly shifting the momentum.
Key Moments
- Denmark struggled with several misses, allowing Canada to control the play.
- Dupont needed two precise shots to limit the damage but could only remove one Canadian rock against five counters.
- Canada capped off the game with three additional points in the seventh end.
Post-Game Reactions
Homan reflected on the performance, stating, “We made a pile of shots early, and it felt pretty comfortable.” In contrast, Dupont acknowledged the challenge of facing such a strong Canadian team, highlighting, “We needed to bring our very best, which I thought we did for an hour.”
Looking Ahead
Canada’s curling team, which includes Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, are seen as strong contenders for medals. Coach Viktor Kjell assessed the match, expressing confidence in their adaptability to ice speed. “We had a lot of pressure on them when we needed,” he stated.
Other notable teams in the tournament include Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg and Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni. Sweden began their campaign with an 8-4 victory over Japan, while Switzerland triumphed 7-4 against Italy.
Upcoming Matches
Canada will return to the ice on Friday to face the United States. Homan aims to build on their strong start, as this victory marked a contrast to her previous Olympic experiences, where she struggled in earlier tournaments.
The Canadian team seeks to leverage their past successes and the lessons learned from previous Olympic challenges. The competition promises to be intense as they aim for gold in this highly competitive event.
