Korea eliminated from mixed doubles curling tournament

Korea's Kim Seon-yeong, left, and Jeong Yeong-seok strategize during the mixed doubles round robin phase of the curling competition against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday. AP-Yonhap

MILAN — Korea was eliminated from the mixed doubles curling tournament of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday, despite winning both of its matches on the day.

Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok defeated Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant of Canada by 9-5 in their penultimate round-robin match at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d'Ampezzo, some 260 kilometers northeast of Milan.

It was Korea's third straight victory, following five consecutive defeats to open the competition.

Korea beat the United States on Saturday and then Estonia earlier Sunday.

Korea improved to 3-5 after the win over Canada, but it wasn't enough to send the team into the top four and the semifinals, with Britain (8-1), the U.S. (6-2), Italy (5-3) and Sweden (5-4) clinching those berths.

Facing Canada, Korea rallied from a 3-1 deficit with three points in the fourth end thanks to Kim's successful hit and roll.

Korea added two more points in the fifth end as Peterman missed on her hit and roll with her final stone.

After Canada got two points in the sixth end and then Korea matched that in the seventh end, Kim and Jeong closed out the win with one final point in the eighth end.

Against Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill of Estonia earlier Sunday, Korea jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first end thanks to a well-executed double takeout by Kim with her final stone.

Korea added two more points in the second end, with Kaldvee's unsuccessful draw leaving two South Korean stones near the button.

Estonia scored its first point in the third end, but Korea responded with two points in the fourth end to grab a 7-1 lead, courtesy of Kim's draw.

Estonia grabbed a point in the fifth end, only to see Korea pull further ahead with two points in the next end, with Kim's clearing shot giving her team a 9-2 lead.

Estonia scored one point in the seventh end but then conceded the match with one end remaining.

Korea will close out the round-robin phase Monday against Norway.