Sweden Clinches Silver in Dramatic Women's Relay at 2026 Winter Olympics

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Sweden's women's cross-country skiing relay team delivered a rollercoaster of emotions, ultimately securing a silver medal after a dramatic race marked by setbacks and remarkable comebacks.

Sweden was widely favored to win their 11th consecutive championship gold, with a team considered the strongest ever and star skier Frida Karlsson aiming to make history by winning three Olympic golds. However, the race took a challenging turn when Ebba Andersson fell twice during her leg, losing a ski and struggling in difficult wet and muddy snow conditions. These incidents caused a significant delay and dashed Sweden's hopes of gold, leaving the team nearly a minute behind Norway by the time Andersson passed the baton to Frida Karlsson.

Despite these setbacks, Karlsson made an impressive recovery, reducing Norway’s lead by 11 seconds. Jonna Sundling then delivered a powerful performance in the final leg, overtaking both Italy and Finland to clinch the silver medal for Sweden, finishing 50 seconds behind Norway.

The emotional toll on Andersson was evident. She was consoled by her boyfriend Gustaf Berglund, who described her misfortune as “maximal bad luck.” Teammates expressed deep concern and empathy, with Linn Svahn highlighting the team's close bond and Astri Öyre Slind reflecting on the heartbreak of Andersson’s falls, saying, "I wish no one to experience what Ebba experienced." Sundling praised Andersson's resilience, noting the impressive way she handled the unforeseen setbacks.

Though silver fell short of the gold medal expectations, the Swedish team’s perseverance and Sundling’s strong finish demonstrated their strength and determination in a fiercely competitive event. Norway claimed the gold, with Sweden proud of their historic silver medal amidst the drama and challenges of the race.