Estonia made Olympic curling history on the first day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, with Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill becoming the country's first curlers to compete at the Olympics. Kaldvee delivered the first stone of the Games as curling opened before the official ceremony. Despite a brief interruption due to a power outage, Estonia put up a strong fight against Switzerland, leveling the score at 7-7 before narrowly losing 9-7 in an extra end. Both Lill and Kaldvee expressed excitement about their Olympic experience and focus on their future matches.

By the Numbers
  • Estonia scored four points in a single end to tie the game against Switzerland after trailing 7-3.
  • Switzerland's final score of 9-7 included two points in the extra end without needing the last stone.
  • Canada defeated Czechia with a score of 10-5, thanks to a four-point steal in the second end.
Yes, But

Despite the historic milestone for Estonia, they ultimately fell short against a more experienced Swiss team, highlighting the competitive nature of Olympic curling.

State of Play
  • Great Britain secured an 8-6 victory over Norway in a rematch of the previous Olympic semi-final.
  • Canada began their campaign strong, winning decisively against Czechia.
  • Swedish siblings secured an efficient win against the Republic of Korea, finishing with a score of 10-3.
What's Next

As the round-robin phase continues, Estonia, Great Britain, Canada, and others will look to build momentum and secure spots in the knockout rounds with each match critical for advancement.

Bottom Line

Estonia's Olympic debut marks a significant achievement in its curling history, blending excitement with the challenges of high-stakes competition as they aim for success in their upcoming matches.