10 March 2026
Norway mixed team score first win at Paralympic Winter Games
Seven wheelchair mixed team games were played on Tuesday across two sessions at the Paralympic Winter Games.
2024 world champions Norway met 2025 world silver medallists Republic of Korea in the morning. Team Korea had an excellent game, put a lot of pressure on Norway, and were leading, 6-0 at halftime. Team Korea stole three more points in the following three ends for 9-0 after seven. At this point, Norway conceded the game.
In the evening, Norway were still looking for their first win of the competition when they played Italy. Norway got off to a strong start, and after a score of two, they stole three more for a 5-0 lead after two. By halftime, they were leading 8-1. Norway eventually ran Italy out of stones in the eighth end for a 9-3 victory.
After the game, a happy Norway third Geir Arne Skogstad said, “It’s been a struggling week, we didn’t start as we wanted to. The loss against Slovakia, I think that destroyed a bit everything for us. If we had won that game, I think the rest would have been different. But now it’s the first victory and we are happy with beating Italy. We are planning to win the rest of our games, so we at least have some dignity on the standings at the end of the week.”
Only two teams were undefeated ahead of the day’s action, Canada and People’s Republic of China. They played each other in the morning. In the third end, Canada stole a single when Wang Haitao’s take-out attempt was unsuccessful. In the fourth, Team China put three on the board to tie the game, 3-3. In the fourth, Canada scored two, mostly due to two excellent stones from third player Jon Thurston.
Canada were leading 5-4, playing the seventh with hammer. Wang Haitao’s double take-out attempt wasn’t successful and it opened the door for Mark Ideson to draw the house for four points. He made no mistake, Canada scored four for 9-4, and Team China conceded the game.
After the win, Ideson said, “It was definitely a big win, tough day today with Sweden and China, so we’re happy to get that one under our belt. Obviously, China’s such an incredible team and we put a lot of pressure on them today and we feel good about the win.
“We have so much support from friends and family, back in Canada and here we have 50 or 60 fans, but the Italian fans are amazing, the building is incredible. It’s loud in there and it’s so much fun!”
In the evening, Canada picked up another win against Sweden to stay undefeated. Canada were leading, 3-0, at halftime, mostly due to two single steals. Sweden switched gears in the second half and scored five in three consecutive ends to take a 5-3 lead after seven.
In the eighth end, Canada needed to score three to win the game. Mark Ideson executed a perfect hit-and-stick to remove the shot Swedish stone, score three and win, 6-5.
Hosts Italy met Great Britain in the morning, both teams hoping to score a second win. The teams were tied at 5-5 after five. In the sixth, Italy skip Egidio Marchese played an unreal double take-out and Italy scored three.
In the seventh, Marchese missed his last take-out attempt, and Great Britain had a change to score two. However, Hugh Nibloe’s shooter rolled too far and Great Britain had to settle for one. In the eighth, Italy were leading, 8-6, having hammer. Hugh Nibloe came up short with his last one and Italy didn’t need to throw their last for the win.
United States of America and Slovakia both had a won two, lost three record before they played each other in the evening. Slovakia put a lot of pressure on Team United States and were leading 4-0 after three. Team United States got on the board in the fourth, scoring two.
After the break, Slovakia scored a big three back for a 7-2 lead. They didn’t look back from there, and eventually won, 8-3.
After the game, Slovakia Monika Kunkelova said, “We are very happy! In the first end, when we scored two, it was quite motivating. And then when we stole the single points, that was even more motivating and we were a bit relaxed. Tomorrow will be a hard day because we start earlier than on other days, so I hope we will sleep as much as possible.”
Slovakia coach Daniela Matulova added, “That felt fantastic! It’s honestly really comforting that what we have practiced all the time, it can be seen here finally. I’m happy!”
China picked up a win against Latvia in the evening, 9-5, mostly due to big scores of three in the fourth and sixth ends.
After four days of round-robin play, Canada are the only undefeated team (6W-0L), while Team China are clear second on the rankings (5W-1L). Team Korea and Sweden are joint third (4W-2L), while Slovakia are fifth (3W-3L). Italy, Latvia and Team United States share sixth spot (2W-4L), while at the foot of the table Great Britain and Norway share ninth place (1W-5L).
On Wednesday, competition will continue at the Cortina Olympic Stadium with the mixed doubles’ medal games and two mixed team round-robin sessions.
Follow the live scores from the wheelchair mixed teams at Milano Cortina 2026 here.
Follow the live scores from the wheelchair mixed doubles at Milano Cortina 2026 here.
Find the full wheelchair curling schedule and results here.
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