Curling at the Winter Olympics
Curling at the Winter Olympics is the Olympic competition in the sport of curling, featuring men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events.
Curling at the Winter Olympics is the Olympic competition in the sport of curling, featuring men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events. It first appeared at the inaugural Winter Games in 1924, became a permanent medal sport in 1998, and added mixed doubles in 2018.
Olympic history
Curling debuted at the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. It later became a permanent Olympic medal sport in Nagano in 1998, after earlier appearances as a demonstration event.
Events and format
The Olympic curling program includes men’s, women’s and mixed doubles tournaments. Men’s and women’s events use four-player teams, while mixed doubles uses one man and one woman.
Qualification and venues
Olympic curling qualification is based on World Curling ranking and qualifying events. In 2026, all three events are scheduled at the Cortina Olympic Stadium in Italy.
Medal standings
Canada and Sweden are the most successful nations in Olympic curling. Canada is credited with the most Olympic medals in the sport, followed closely by Sweden.
Key facts
- Curling was first part of the Winter Olympics in 1924 and later returned as an official medal sport in 1998.
- The Olympic program currently includes three events: men's curling, women's curling, and mixed doubles.
- Mixed doubles was introduced at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
- At the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, each of the three curling disciplines includes 10 National Olympic Committees.
- Curling has been particularly successful for Canada, which leads the Olympic medal count in the sport.
Curling is one of Canada’s strongest Winter Olympic sports, and Canada is identified as the most successful nation in Olympic curling history.[5]
Frequently asked questions
When did curling first appear at the Winter Olympics?
When did curling become a permanent Olympic medal sport?
Which curling events are in the Winter Olympics?
When was mixed doubles added to the Olympics?
Which country has been most successful in Olympic curling?
References
- World Curling — https://worldcurling.org/events/olympics/Supports: Olympic events, 2026 venue, host qualification, and current competition structure.
- Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/sports/curling/Supports: Olympic debut and general Olympic history of curling.
- Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/CurlingSupports: Olympic history, permanent inclusion in 1998, and mixed doubles introduction in 2018.
- Olympedia — https://www.olympedia.org/sports/CURSupports: Olympic medal totals and country rankings in curling.
- NBC Olympics — https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/curling-2026-milan-cortina-winter-olympicsSupports: Event format, number of teams, qualification overview, and scoring explanation.