Sweden Shines with Gold and Silver in Cross-Country Skiing at 2026 Winter Olympics

Sweden celebrated a remarkable achievement at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy by securing both gold and silver medals in the cross-country skiing skiathlon event. On February 8, Frida Karlsson won the gold medal, her first individual Olympic medal, after previously earning a bronze in the relay team. Ebba Andersson took the silver, also marking her first individual Olympic medal. The skiathlon consisted of a 10-kilometer classical style race followed by 10 kilometers freestyle. Karlsson expressed joy at skiing alongside Andersson, saying, "It felt great to ski closely with Ebba Andersson. On such a day, one must truly enjoy it. When the skiing works well, we have a fantastic team behind us, and having Ebba with me is a great comfort." Andersson also reflected happily on her silver medal finish.

Looking ahead, Swedish sprinter Jonna Sundling is favored to win gold in the women's sprint event, joining Karlsson and Andersson, who have already left their mark on these Olympics. On the men's side, Sebastian Samuelsson aims to redeem himself after penalties affected Sweden's mixed relay performance, focusing on the men's 20-kilometer distance race. Meanwhile, reigning Olympic mogul champion Walter Wallberg is competing in qualifications, and 23-year-old Elis Lundholm will make his Olympic debut in women's moguls.

Sweden's medal prospects also extend to mixed curling, where Team Wranå has reached the semifinals. Despite some inconsistent performances, they remain a medal threat, with betting odds at 7.50 for gold and 1.50 for any medal. The Olympics, running through February 22, showcase a strong Swedish presence and hopeful medal chances across multiple winter sports.