Curling-Married mixed doubles teams balance demands of competition with family life

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 3 : In mixed doubles tournaments, where just two curlers must work together in perfect harmony instead of the traditional four, some teams appear to have an unusual competitive edge - being married to each other.

However, it can also turn into a delicate balancing act when results on the ice threaten to bleed into life off the rink, and curling couples have developed their own distinct approaches.

Norway's Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten have been together since 2011 and have been competing as a mixed doubles team since 2012, winning two Olympic medals together.

Ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, where they will once again be among the favourites to win a medal, Skaslien told Reuters on Tuesday that curling was a "lifestyle" for the Norwegian duo.

"It would be wrong to say anything else. We talk about curling 24/7, almost. There are both pros and cons. In terms of our team dynamics, we do not have any filter out there, for better or worse," she added.

"We can be our own worst enemies out there, if we go over the top and are not able to turn it around and work together as a team again. But on the other side, all the feelings, everything, it's not building up inside.

"We just get it out there and then and get it over with. Then we're able to focus what's left of the game. We're not afraid to discuss or argue. Some people call it quarrelling. But for us it's not that bad. We're just both really stubborn and competitive."

While most spectators will tune in to the curling to watch some precision stone-throwing, Nedregotten said a few fans could also be attracted by an added element of drama.

"Most times when people think that we're arguing, we're just talking! Some people that will watch the