Canada Shocked by Switzerland

KARUIZAWA, Japan — Canada had planned to win two gold medals in the first Olympic curling tournament, but came away Sunday with only one. The United States, true to form, left empty-handed.

Between them, the Canadian men and women have won eight of the past 10 world curling champions. While the Canadian women beat surprise finalist Denmark, 7-5, the men were stunned in the gold-medal game, 9-3, by Switzerland, a team the Canadians had beaten earlier, 8-3.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Canadian captain Mike Harris, who is a professional golfer. “I wouldn’t have minded losing if we had played well, but we just didn’t show up.”

The Winter Games must bring out the best in the Swiss, who haven’t won the world championship since 1992, when they also won an Olympic demonstration tournament.

The Americans, who haven’t finished higher than third in a world championship since 1993, fell behind early and lost to Norway, 9-4, in the bronze-medal match.

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MEDALISTS

Curling

MEN

Gold: Switzerland

Silver: Canada

Bronze: Norway