Canada's Mixed Doubles Curling Playoff Hopes Hang by Thread After Fourth Consecutive Olympic Loss

Canada's mixed doubles curling team of Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman saw their Olympic medal dreams take a devastating blow on Sunday, February 8, 2026, falling 7-6 to Sweden in a heartbreaking finish at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. The defeat marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Canadian duo, dropping their record to 3-4 in round-robin play and leaving them clinging to faint playoff hopes with precious few matches remaining. What began as a promising Olympic campaign with three straight victories has devolved into a nightmare scenario for a nation that expects excellence in curling.

The loss to Sweden was particularly difficult to stomach given how close Canada came to halting their losing streak. Gallant and Peterman battled the Swedish pair throughout the match, but ultimately couldn't close out the victory when it mattered most. The one-point defeat continues a pattern of narrow losses that have characterized Canada's recent struggles—competitive performances that nonetheless end in the loss column. With only the top four teams advancing to the playoff semifinals, Canada now finds themselves in sixth place, outside the qualification zone and facing an uphill battle to salvage their Olympic hopes.

Elsewhere in Sunday's mixed doubles action, the United States defeated Estonia 5-3 to improve their record and remain in medal contention. The American duo continues to exceed expectations and sits tied for second place with a 5-2 record, having established themselves as genuine threats for the podium. Switzerland delivered the day's biggest upset, ending Great Britain's perfect record with a narrow 7-6 victory. Despite the loss, Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat remain atop the standings at 7-1 and have already secured one of the four semifinal berths. Italy kept their medal hopes alive with a commanding 8-2 victory over Czechia, improving to 5-2 and keeping pace with the United States.

The current standings paint a challenging picture for Canada's playoff aspirations. Great Britain leads at 7-1, while Italy and the United States are tied at 5-2. Sweden's victory over Canada moved them to 5-3, giving them strong positioning for a playoff spot. With Norway and Switzerland also lurking in the middle of the pack, Canada faces the prospect of needing to win their remaining matches while hoping for favorable results from other games. The mathematical scenarios remain complex, but the margin for error has essentially disappeared for Gallant and Peterman.

For Canadian curling fans, the team's struggles represent a shocking development in a sport where their nation has traditionally dominated. Canada has won multiple Olympic medals in curling across various disciplines, and mixed doubles has been no exception. The pressure on Gallant and Peterman to reverse their fortunes has intensified with each successive defeat, and questions are beginning to emerge about strategy, shot selection, and mental resilience. The duo will need to rediscover the form that earned them three straight wins to open the tournament if they hope to keep their Olympic dreams alive.

As the round-robin stage enters its final days, Canada faces must-win situations in their remaining matches. Every rock thrown, every strategic decision, and every last-stone situation takes on magnified importance when a nation's curling pride hangs in the balance. Gallant and Peterman have the skill and experience to mount a comeback, but they'll need flawless execution combined with help from other results to punch their ticket to the semifinals. The curling world will be watching closely to see whether Canada can author an improbable turnaround or whether their Olympic journey will end in disappointment at the round-robin stage.