The Philippine curling team is one step closer to making history after sweeping its pre-Olympic qualification campaign in Aberdeen, Scotland over the weekend, strengthening its bid to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The all-Filipino heritage squad of Marc Pfister, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister, Brayden Carpenter, and alternate Alan Frei went unbeaten in their matches at Curl Aberdeen. Their flawless run secured the team’s slot in the Olympic Qualification 2025 tournament set for December 6 to 19 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dominant Run in Scotland
The top two teams in Kelowna will advance to the 2026 Winter Games, scheduled from February 4 to 22.
“We’re so happy to announce that our Philippine men’s curling team is just a doorstep away from making it to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
The Philippine squad delivered strong performances against some of the region’s best. The team defeated Denmark (7-4), Chinese Taipei (10-0), New Zealand (6-5), Australia (9-4 in seven ends), and Poland (7-2).
This comes after the same team clinched the country’s first-ever gold medal in winter sports by defeating South Korea, 5-3, at the men’s team final of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin last February.
“They performed really well in Scotland and we are proud of them. We expect them to advance, and we are calling the entire nation for support and prayers,” Tolentino said. “We are also hoping that the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] will support their campaign.”
Ten countries, 120 athletes split equally between men and women, plus host Italy are expected to qualify for the Winter Olympics. Teams from Czechia, Poland and New Zealand for the men’s division, as well as Germany and Australia in the women’s division, also secured slots in the upcoming qualifiers.
A Spotlight on a Little-Known Sport
Curling remains a niche sport in the Philippines, but the team’s back-to-back international victories have put it under a brighter spotlight. Their success is opening doors for wider recognition and interest in a discipline rarely associated with a tropical nation.
By advancing to the Olympic qualifying tournament, the team isn’t just chasing medals, they’re helping bring a winter sport into mainstream awareness at home.
For young Filipino athletes, their run is a reminder that excellence isn’t bound by climate or tradition, and that Olympic dreams can come from unexpected places.
