The double-touch curling controversy at the Winter Olympics escalated significantly when Canada's Rachel Homan faced an unexpected challenge during her match against Switzerland on Saturday. In a contentious decision, officials removed Homan's first stone from play, citing a rules violation. This incident occurred during the first end of the game, leading to Homan's disbelief.
According to microphones picked up during the broadcast, Homan expressed her frustration, stating, "Like absolutely not. Zero per cent chance (she double-touched the rock)." Despite her protests, the officials maintained that she had violated the rules, asserting that they observed her touching the stone after it had been released. Homan firmly refuted this claim, emphasizing, "I’ve never done it in my life."
Ultimately, the controversial removal of the rock left Homan with an open draw for one with her last stone, which she successfully executed. However, the incident weighed heavily on her performance and mental state throughout the match. After the game, which Canada lost 8-7 in an extra end, Homan confronted the officials regarding the ruling. She described the experience as "unreal," highlighting the consistency in her throws.
Reflecting on the match after her team’s defeat, Homan expressed her disappointment to CBC Olympics, saying, "Yeah, it’s frustrating, the officials getting into the game that they have no business getting into." She indicated that the controversial call disrupted her focus, particularly because her team lost in a close contest rounded out by an additional end. She further stressed, "It’s just a shame that had to happen," emphasizing the impact of the officials' ruling on the outcome of the game.
Homan elaborated on her frustration, stating, "They said I touched the stone after I let it go, which is so far from the truth, it’s crazy. Just making something up, I don’t know." The emotional toll of the call was exacerbated by the fact that her team, wearing the Maple Leaf, faced scrutiny during these challenging moments.
This incident unfolds in the context of another heated exchange that occurred between Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs and Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin just a day prior, further adding to the tensions surrounding these competitions. During that match, Edin’s third, Oskar Eriksson, accused Jacobs’ third, Marc Kennedy, of double-touching a stone. Despite repeated discussions with officials, no sanction was imposed, leading to a verbal confrontation after the ninth end of that game.
World Curling responded to the growing turmoil by releasing a statement reiterating the rules: “During forward motion, touching the granite of the stone is not allowed. This will result in the stone being removed from play." According to Rule R.5 (d) of the curling rulebook, the stone must be delivered using its handle, and any violation will lead to its removal from play, reinforcing the strict standards enforced by officials.
The increasing scrutiny on officiating in curling has raised concerns among players and fans alike, particularly as the Winter Olympics continue. With Canada’s Team Homan finding themselves in the midst of a tight competition and a pressing need to improve their record, the implications of these controversial calls will undoubtedly resonate in their upcoming matches.
