Sweden's Wheelchair Curling Team Bounces Back After Loss to USA at Paralympics 2026

At the 2026 Paralympics in Cortina, Sweden's wheelchair curling team experienced a challenging day marked by both defeat and victory. The team, comprising Viljo Pettersson Dahl, Ronny Persson, Sabina Johansson, Kristina Ulander, and Marcus Holm, suffered their first loss of the tournament with a heavy 7-1 defeat at the hands of the United States. The American team took an early lead, scoring two points in the opening end and continued to dominate by stealing points in three consecutive ends despite Sweden having the last stone advantage. Sweden managed to score just once in the fifth end, but by then, the USA had established a commanding lead. The Swedish team conceded before the final eighth end, with the match showcasing the USA's control from start to finish.

However, Sweden quickly recovered later the same day, securing a dramatic 6-5 victory against Great Britain. The match was intensely contested and came down to the final end, where Team Petersson Dahl successfully stole a crucial point to clinch the win. This victory marked Sweden's fourth win out of five matches and lifted them to third place in the round-robin stage, with four matches remaining.

While the curling team showed resilience, the Paralympic competition also witnessed other notable Swedish moments. Aaron Lindström suffered a serious crash during the super-G event, resulting in a significant concussion and raising concerns about his condition. Meanwhile, skier Ebba Årsjö expressed disappointment after winning a bronze medal, candidly noting that she had expected more from her performance.

Crown Princess Victoria was among those who witnessed Sweden's first curling loss at the Paralympics, highlighting the event's high profile. The Swedish wheelchair curling team now aims to build momentum as they continue their campaign in the preliminary rounds, seeking to secure a strong position heading into the knockout stages.