Rachel Homan and her Canadian rink secured a spot in the semifinals of the women’s curling tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a 10-7 victory over South Korea on Thursday, continuing a remarkable comeback after a shaky start to the round robin.
The win was Canada’s fifth consecutive, elevating their record to 6-3 and guaranteeing a medal opportunity. Trailing early in the tournament, Homan’s team faced a must-win scenario against Eunji Gim’s South Korean squad to avoid elimination. “I couldn’t ask for anything more from the girls,” Canadian coach Heather Nedohin said, according to CBC Sports. “The outcome is a big check mark.”
Canada’s resurgence began after a 1-3 start, a period described by team members as effectively being in “sudden-death mode,” according to the National Post. The team, comprised of Homan, third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes, now faces Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg in the semifinals on Friday at 8:05 a.m. ET. Sweden currently holds the best record in the tournament at 7-2, having suffered losses to both South Korea and Canada.
The victory eliminated South Korea from playoff contention, while the United States also clinched a semifinal berth with a 7-6 win over Switzerland. The U.S. Will play Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland in the other semifinal match. This marks the first time in three Olympic appearances – two team events and one mixed doubles – that Homan has reached the playoff stage and the opportunity to compete for a medal.
Friday’s schedule also includes a significant test for the Canadian men’s hockey team, who will face Finland in a semifinal matchup at 10:40 a.m. ET, following a hard-fought overtime victory against Czechia in the quarterfinals. Courtney Sarault will compete in the women’s 1,500m short-track speedskating event, with a potential to tie a Canadian single-Games record for medals, currently held by Cindy Klassen with five medals from 2006. The Canadian men’s short-track speedskating team will also compete in the 5,000m relay finals, with Steven Dubois returning after winning gold in the 500 metres on Wednesday.
