Swedish Mixed Doubles Curling Team Wins Silver at 2026 World Championship

The Swedish mixed doubles curling team of Therese Westman and Robin Ahlberg secured the silver medal at the 2026 World Curling Championship in Geneva, after a decisive 8-4 loss to Australia in the final. It was a landmark achievement for the duo, marking their best career performance and adding to a historic Swedish curling season.

The final match began well for Sweden, with both teams tied at 1-1 after the first two rounds. However, critical errors by the Swedish pair allowed Australia to score pivotal three-point ends, notably in the third and seventh rounds, which ultimately sealed the outcome. Despite Sweden’s strong response with two points in the fourth round and efforts to reduce the deficit, costly misses, including Ahlberg’s stone failing to cross the hog line and Westman’s errors, gave Australia an insurmountable lead. The Australian team, represented by Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt, won their first-ever mixed doubles curling gold, making their victory especially notable given Australia does not have a dedicated curling club.

This silver medal contributes to an unprecedented Swedish season, where the nation captured seven medals out of eight possible in senior championships, including multiple golds at European and Olympic levels. The Swedish team’s journey to the final included solid playoff victories over Scotland and Canada. Dean Hewitt reflected on the importance of scoring three points in key ends, while Ahlberg highlighted Sweden’s strong start but acknowledged the impact of the critical scoring rounds that shifted momentum in Australia’s favor.

Overall, Sweden’s performance underlines their continued prominence in world curling, despite falling short in the final against a formidable Australian team.