Curling Becomes a "Family Affair" at the 2026

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics have officially rebranded the ice as a family zone. While the Olympics are usually defined by fierce individual rivalry, the mixed doubles curling event at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium has captured global hearts by featuring three married couples and a high-profile set of siblings—all turning their intimate personal bonds into a competitive edge.

The "family affair" on the ice has become the tournament's most talked-about storyline, blending elite athleticism with the relatable chaos of marriage and parenting.

The Married Couples: "Hot Washes" and On-Ice Vows

Three of the ten teams in the mixed doubles field are married couples who have turned their intimate knowledge of each other into a strategic advantage.

Norway: Kristin Skaslien & Magnus Nedregotten The veteran duo, already silver and bronze medalists, are famous for their "Hot Wash" ritual. After intense matches where they are often seen screaming and rejecting high-fives on the ice, they allow themselves one minute to vent. "Just after finishing a game, we say one emotion to each other," Nedregotten explained. "I will say I'm angry, she will say I'm pissed. Then we go to separate spaces for half an hour before we analyze the game."

Canada: Jocelyn Peterman & Brett Gallant Returning to Italy—where they spent their honeymoon—the Canadian pair have successfully balanced "professional distance" with new parenthood. They made headlines early in the games by snapping Italy’s 23-game international winning streak. Unlike the Norwegians, they claim to have strict boundaries, rarely talking about curling once they leave the arena.

Switzerland: Yannick Schwaller & Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann Both are Olympic debutants and the parents of the games' breakout star, Baby River. The couple, who come from legendary curling lineages, describe competing together as a "dream come true," noting that having their son nearby is the "best medicine" against the pressure of the Games.

The Viral Sensation: "The Curling Baby"

The undisputed mascot of the 2026 Games is one-and-a-half-year-old River Walter Schwaller. Following the Swiss team's opening-round victory over Estonia, River stole the show by joining his parents on the ice wearing a custom jersey. Photos of the toddler attempting to march down the sidelines with a curling broom nearly double his size became an overnight sensation, earning him the nickname "The Curling Baby."

The Sibling Gold: Sweden’s Wranå Duo

Representing the non-married side of the family tree are Sweden's Isabella and Rasmus Wranå. The brother-sister duo grew up as fierce rivals before teaming up to represent Sweden. Their unique "sibling energy" paid off in spectacular fashion on February 10, 2026, when they defeated the U.S. pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin to win the Olympic Gold Medal.

Their coach, Alison Kreviazuk, noted that siblings are often easier to coach than couples because they are used to a dynamic of "play-fighting" and finding their way back to each other after a quarrel. Their victory marks the first time a sibling pair has won gold in the mixed doubles event.

A Broader Trend: The "Family Games"

The "family affair" energy has spilled over into other venues at Milano-Cortina, proving that 2026 is the year of the relative:

• Hockey’s Brotherly Bond: The U.S. Men's Hockey team is being led by two sets of iconic brothers: Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and Jack and Quinn Hughes. The four roommates in the Olympic village have turned the tournament into what Matthew calls a "whole family accomplishment."

• Figure Skating Romance: Newlyweds Madison Chock and Evan Bates (U.S.) continued their journey as the "elder statespeople" of ice dance, winning a medal together after a career spent as partners on and off the ice.

Source - https://www.euronews.com/2026/02/09/at-milano-cortina-olympics-curling-turns-into-true-family-affair-on-ice

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