Canada skip Brad Jacobs has hit back over one of the major scandals at the Winter Olympic Games after his rink secured gold at Milano Cortina. Canada were accused of “double touching” the stone in their victory over Sweden earlier in the Games, something which they have routinely denied. Jacobs told critics: “I hope that the image of us with our gold medals is burned into your brain forever”.

Canada skip Brad Jacobs has hit back at critics following the “double touching” curling controversy and told them he hopes the image of the team with their gold medals is “burned into your brain forever”.
Jacobs and his rink won Olympic Games gold in the men’s final, beating Team GB 9-6 at the Cortina Curling Centre on Saturday.
The victory comes after one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, in which Marc Kennedy was accused by Swede Oskar Eriksson of “double touching” a stone.

Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026

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The video of Kennedy and Eriksson went far beyond the usual curling sphere, with the clip in which the Canadian tells the Swede to “f*** off” going viral.
It prompted people globally to accuse Kennedy and Canada of cheating, both in and out of curling, something which Jacobs says his team took to heart in their pursuit of gold.
“Well, I don’t think we’re a team that needs any more motivation,” Jacobs said upon clinching gold.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

He added: “Canada and curling in Canada is special to us, it means a lot to us, integrity means a lot to us, and we wanted to go out there and prove everyone wrong and rise to the top of the podium.
“I will say, for anyone who called us cheaters, for anyone that said negative things about Marc Kennedy, about us, about Canada, about our families.
“I hope that the image of us standing on top of the podium, embracing one another, smiling ear to ear with our gold medals is burned into your brain forever.”

The controversy surrounded accusations Canada’s players nudged the stone after it had been released.
Canada denied the allegations from the outset, with a feisty encounter taking place on the ice between Kennedy and Eriksson, with the Canadian side firm in their position.
Two extra officials dedicated to watching the hog line were initially brought in to prevent such controversy again, before the players decided they were getting in the way, and they were removed.

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It has remained a talking point throughout the Games, with Canada’s women accused of a similar violation and Team GB’s Bobby Lammie also accused of “double touching” at one stage.
Upon winning gold – Canada’s first since 2014 – when Jacobs again skipped them to glory over Team GB, he defended the nation’s curling reputation and said his team were the best in the world.
“When some things went down this week, and people were using some pretty outrageous words, like cheating, associated now with our team, I’ll guarantee you that that only motivated us further to go out and prove to everyone that we are also one of the best,” he added.
“Now [we are] at the top of the podium, and I would say the best team in the world.”

Watch every moment of the Milano Cortina 2026 closing ceremony live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.