Sweden's Mixed Curling Team Faces Difficult Road After Consecutive Olympic Losses

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Sweden's mixed curling team, led by Isabella and Rasmus Wranå, has struggled significantly after a strong start with two wins. They have since lost two consecutive matches, including a decisive 9-0 defeat to Norway. This loss was especially crushing, with Norway dominating from the early ends and scoring eight points by the fifth end, ultimately concluding 9-0 after the sixth.

Coach Andreas Prytz described the match against Norway as "a darkness like no other," reflecting the team's frustration and inability to adapt effectively to the ice conditions. Rasmus Wranå acknowledged their struggle with the ice and underlined the need to adjust their strategy going forward. Meanwhile, Isabella Wranå mentioned that despite playing well in prior matches, key shots were missed, resulting in their losses.

Currently, Sweden finds themselves in the middle of the standings. With ten teams competing in a round-robin format, only the top four will advance to the semifinals. Great Britain continues to lead undefeated, while Sweden must now win four crucial matches to keep their semifinal hopes alive. A must-win game against Norway, who started the Olympics with three losses before their victory over Sweden, is looming as a decisive turning point.

Experts like Eva Lund and Niklas Nord have expressed sympathy and cautious optimism for Sweden. Lund stated, "I feel for the Swedish team," while Nord emphasized the importance of the upcoming Norway match for playoff qualification.

As Sweden prepares for the remaining group stage games, the team is focused on regrouping and making the necessary adjustments to fight their way to the semifinals.