Canada out in Olympic mixed doubles curling as Italy, the US and Sweden advance to semifinals

By: Julia Frankel, The Associated Press Posted: 2:10 PM CST Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 Last Modified: 2:37 PM CST Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

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CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Canada's mixed doubles curling team failed to reach the Olympic semifinals, a result that would have stunned fans of the sport just a decade ago,

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CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Canada's mixed doubles curling team failed to reach the Olympic semifinals, a result that would have stunned fans of the sport just a decade ago,

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This article was published 08/02/2026 (193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Canada’s mixed doubles curling team failed to reach the Olympic semifinals, a result that would have stunned fans of the sport just a decade ago,

South Korea’s 9-5 victory Sunday night was the Canadians’ fifth consecutive defeat and knocked them out of contention.

The result meant heartbreak for Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, the married couple who entered the competition as favorites to qualify for the semifinals. They entered these Games under immense pressure to restore Canada’s curling dominance after waning success these past few winter Olympiads.

Canada's Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman speak,during the mixed doubles round robin phase of the curling competition against Sweden, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

“It hurts,” Gallant said. “Yes, it’s an accomplishment to make it here but that wasn’t our goal. We wanted more.”

The loss was sure to demoralize Canada’s massive curling fan base, one that is uniquely knowledgeable and highly attentive to the sport.

Italy, the U.S. and Sweden joined already-qualified Britain in the semifinals, which take place Monday.

After losing 7-6 to Sweden earlier in the day, the usually stoic Peterman was visibly upset, wiping a tear from her cheek. Gallant bore an expression of exasperation, and the pair walked quickly through the press room without stopping much for questions.

Peterman was crying after the team’s elimination.

“I’ll have to move out of the village,” she said.

She said she’d stay in Italy with the couple’s son and their families to watch Gallant compete in the men’s event.

Asked what would comfort them the most, Gallant said: “a hug from our son.”

In the round robin, the pair had early victories over Czechia, Norway and Italy. But that followed Friday with a loss to the U.S. and Saturday with consecutive defeats to Britain, currently ranked first, and Estonia, now at the bottom of the pack. Gallant attributed their losses Saturday to the team’s struggle to adjust to ice conditions that were much quicker than the day before.