Winter Olympics 2026: Team GB on wrong side of measuring drama but still triumph over Germany in round robin - ‘Millimetres!’
Updated 15/02/2026 at 13:38 GMT
React to this story
The margins between success and failure at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are incredibly small and that was once again apparent in the men’s curling round-robin clash between Great Britain and Germany. The measuring device was required in the third end to determine whose stone lay closer and it came down to a matter of millimetres to make a final decision one way or another.
Watch: 'Millimetres!' - Drama for GB as measurer called again in Germany clash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Talk about fine margins! Team GB’s men’s curlers found themselves on the wrong side of an incredibly tight call in their round-robin clash against Germany at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
With three wins from four, the GB stars were looking to take a step closer to securing a spot in the semi-finals.
And they made a strong start, vaulting into a 2-0 lead after the first end. However, Germany soon hit back and were helped by a razor-thin measurement decision that went in their favour in the third end.
They were lying at least one but had a second stone that looked equidistant from the centre to one of Team GB’s rocks.
To the naked eye, it was impossible to call. Officials, therefore, brought out the measuring device. Once round, even that couldn’t determine which stone was closer.
However, after re-calibrating it, on the second spin, it was decided the German stone was closer by a matter of millimetres.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/14/image-7d988a15-1144-45a5-9aae-4dade6fbe28d-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'You can f*** off!' - Curling beef erupts over cheating accusations
Video credit: TNT Sports
"One red for sure, so I’m measuring for the second red," the umpire could be heard saying.
"So it goes almost to the two on the micrometer [for the red German stone]," the commentator explained. "If this is higher than the two it [the GB stone] is closer. It’s very, very close.
"The umpire will reset the micrometer, change the pressure and swing it around one more time.
"It was absolutely millimetres."
The decision brought the score level at 2-2 and could have proved pivotal but Team GB quickly responded from the setback to regain the lead.
The GB outfit of Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan and Kyle Waddell moved 4-2 ahead after the fourth end to restore their two-point advantage and soon moved further clear.
It was 5-2 going into the mid-game break when Germany's Marc Muskatewitz undercooked the hammer, and that became 7-2 after the seventh end.
- Muir advances to big air final as Gu finishes second despite fall in qualification
- GB's Treacy suffers dramatic disqualification with crash in Olympic final as he misses out on medal
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/15/image-3e904058-cdfb-4009-a41b-82fcbfdc8988-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch: 'That's insane!' - MORE curling drama as Canada demand 'proof' over stone removal
Video credit: TNT Sports
A double in the eighth end reduced Germany’s arrears to 7-4 and kept their hopes alive, but Great Britain would not be denied.
A GB double in the ninth end made it 9-4 and led to handshakes between the sides.
The win was a fourth from five for Team GB and strengthens their position in the round-robin table.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement