Sweden Finalizes 111-Athlete Roster for 2026 Winter Olympics Amid Notable Selection Controversies

Sweden has officially announced its final team of 111 athletes for the 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled to commence on February 6 in Milan and Cortina. The roster spans a wide range of disciplines, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, curling, ice hockey, ski jumping, and freestyle skiing.

Among the alpine ski competitors, notable inclusions are Sara Hector, Anna Swenn Larsson, and Cornelia Öhlund. The cross-country skiing squad features prominent athletes like Ebba Andersson, Frida Karlsson, and Jonna Sundling. The biathlon team includes Elvira Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson, while the Swedish curling contingent boasts stars such as Niklas Edin and Anna Hasselborg. Ice hockey teams for both men and women have also been confirmed.

A significant highlight of the announced team is the selection of Elis Lundholm, a 23-year-old skier who identifies as male but competes in the women's category. Lundholm, who has not undergone any gender-affirming treatment, made his World Cup debut in 2024 and secured four Swedish Championship medals and the overall European Cup title last season. The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) confirmed his eligibility, emphasizing inclusivity and fairness, with SOK's sports director Fredrik Joulamo affirming Lundholm meets all necessary criteria and plans to continue competing in the women's category.

Conversely, Swiss alpine skier Felix Monsén was notably excluded from the team despite his recent tenth-place finishes in downhill events. The Swedish Olympic Committee opted instead for Kristoffer Jakobsen and Fabian Ax Swartz in the men's alpine category, both selected under "future criteria."

This finalized team represents Sweden’s strongest candidates across the winter sports disciplines, signaling an ambitious pursuit of medals in Italy. The inclusion of Lundholm, alongside the exclusion of Monsén, underscores the nuanced decisions and evolving policies influencing team selections ahead of the Olympics.