The 2026 Winter Olympics just got a whole lot more exciting, as Team GB's men's curling team made a bold statement in Cortina, Italy. But here's where it gets controversial—could this be the year they finally clinch that elusive gold medal? In a thrilling 6-3 victory over Sweden, Bruce Mouat and his rink not only avenged their silver medal loss from four years ago but also solidified their position as top contenders. This win wasn’t just about skill; it was about resilience, strategy, and a bit of psychological edge.
After a relatively easy opener against China, Mouat’s Scottish quartet faced their first real test against Niklas Edin’s Swedish team. And this is the part most people miss—Mouat has dominated Edin in eight of their last ten meetings, a trend that continued high in the Dolomites. This victory wasn’t just about outplaying Sweden; it was about proving that Team GB’s recovery from their mixed doubles disappointment is well underway. Meanwhile, Sweden now finds themselves in a precarious position after losing their opener to the hosts and facing another powerhouse, Canada, next.
To secure a spot in the semi-finals, a team needs to win at least seven out of nine round-robin matches, though fewer could still suffice. Team GB has started strong, but the road ahead is far from easy. As Mouat himself told BBC Sport, ‘All four of us were really shooting well. We’ve not trained together for a month, so to come back and have the flow where we want it to be is excellent.’ Their next challenge? A top-tier clash against Italy on Friday at 08:05 GMT, broadcast live on the BBC.
Before that, the GB women’s rink kicks off their campaign against China, the world bronze medallists, at 18:05. Here’s where opinions might differ—while Swedish skip Niklas Edin is widely regarded as one of the greatest curlers of all time, Mouat and his team seem to have his number since their agonizing extra-end defeat in Beijing 2022. Are we witnessing a changing of the guard in the curling world?
Both Team GB and Sweden are arguably the best rinks in the competition, alongside Canada, Italy, and Switzerland. This match was a high-stakes battle, with Mouat’s team securing the hammer—the right to throw last—and dictating the game from there. Edin’s failure to execute a high-tariff double takeout in the first end handed Mouat a two-point lead, an advantage they never relinquished. Sweden struggled to keep up, with Edin repeatedly missing key shots, leaving Team GB comfortably ahead 4-1 at halftime and extending their lead to 6-2 with three ends remaining.
Sweden needed a miracle but could only manage a single point in the eighth end. Edin conceded, shaking Mouat’s hand with two ends left. ‘Everyone keeps reminding us they beat us in Beijing, so we had that motivation,’ Grant Hardie told BBC Sport. ‘They had an off-day, and we took full advantage. We were relentless, and we forced them into shots they didn’t want to play.’
Now, the big question—can Team GB maintain this momentum and finally bring home the gold? Or will Sweden, Canada, or another contender rise to the challenge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—who do you think will dominate the curling rink in 2026?
