Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds have made history by becoming the first mixed doubles curling team to qualify for the playoffs at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. This remarkable achievement came after their impressive victories over Canada and the United States on Saturday, February 7, ensuring they maintained an undefeated streak in seven matches.
In their morning match against Canada’s Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, Mouat and Dodds showcased their exceptional skills, racing to a 3-0 lead early on, bolstered by a brilliant takeout from Dodds. Despite facing a tough situation where Canada managed to reduce their deficit to 5-2 after forcing a single point in the fourth end with the help of a strategic play, the British duo seized control once again. A slight misstep by Dodds later in the game allowed Canada to steal two points, narrowing the score to 7-5. However, with the advantage of the last stone, Mouat and Dodds effectively closed out the game, forcing the Canadians to concede.
In other notable games on the same day, Estonia pulled off a significant upset against Canada, with Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill claiming an 8-6 victory. This loss came as a double blow for the Canadians, who had suffered defeat against Great Britain just hours earlier. The Republic of Korea also stunned the United States with a narrow 6-5 win, ending their five-match losing streak. Meanwhile, host nation Italy climbed the standings by overcoming Norway with a close 6-5 win, while Switzerland recorded a commanding 10-3 victory over Czechia.
These matches have heightened the excitement around the mixed doubles curling event as teams vie for playoff positions, and Great Britain’s success stands as a beacon of hope for fans ahead of the Olympics.