Sweden's Mixed Relay Debut and Narrow Wheelchair Curling Semifinal Loss at 2026 Paralympics

Sweden marked its return to the mixed relay cross-country skiing event at the 2026 Paralympics in Val di Fiemme, their first participation since 2014. The team, comprising Arnt-Christian Furuberg (sitting), Alice Morelius (standing), Ellen Westerlund (standing), and visually impaired Zebastian Modin who anchored the final leg, showcased strong team spirit under coach Emil Jönsson Haag's leadership. The 2014 Paralympics saw Sweden secure a silver in this event, with Modin playing a pivotal role by running two legs.

In wheelchair curling, Sweden's team led by skipper Viljo Petersson Dahl experienced a close semifinal defeat to China with a score of 6-7. This match was a tense rematch of the 2022 Paralympic final, which China had won decisively 12-3. Despite improving significantly, Sweden fell short as China scored the decisive point in the last end following some missed shots by the Swedish side. Petersson Dahl expressed sadness over missing the final, emphasizing the team’s gold aspirations and acknowledging China's strong professional edge. SVT experts hailed Sweden's performance as one of their best in recent years.

Sweden’s wheelchair curling team will now compete for the bronze medal against South Korea, whom they previously defeated 8-6 during the group stage. This upcoming match is seen as a critical opportunity to secure Sweden’s seventh medal at these Games. Meanwhile, other Swedish athletes faced mixed results: Aaron Lindström’s Paralympic run ended prematurely after a crash, and Arvid Skoglund finished 20th in alpine skiing.

The Swedish teams’ performance highlights both the challenges and competitive spirit of Sweden at these Paralympics, with the mixed relay cross-country skiing debut and the wheelchair curling team's narrow miss underscoring their persistent fight for medals and recognition on the global stage.