Swedish Relay Team Secures Bronze at 2026 European Orienteering Championships After Dramatic Final Leg

At the 2026 European Orienteering Championships held in Vyšší Brod, Czech Republic, the Swedish women's relay team delivered a thrilling performance to finish third overall. The team, consisting of young stars Freja Hjerne, Klara Borg, and Sanna Fast, faced a rollercoaster of emotions during the event.

Freja Hjerne, only 19, kicked off the race with a strong showing, finishing her first leg in second place, just 13 seconds behind the leaders from Norway. Hjerne, who already boasts triple golds from this year's Junior World Championships, impressed experts like Josefine Heikka, who praised her confidence and skill.

Klara Borg, 22, then took the baton and surged into the lead for Sweden. However, Borg encountered trouble when she missed a control point, causing a delay of 45 seconds and dropping the team back.

On the anchor leg, experienced Sanna Fast faced significant challenges, including a major navigation error where she missed a control stamp, at one point pushing Sweden down to fifth place. Yet, Fast fought back valiantly to regain ground and secure the bronze medal for Sweden, finishing 2 minutes and 24 seconds behind the winning Norwegian team, with the Czech Republic taking silver.

This third-place finish marked a significant achievement for the Swedish relay squad, showcasing the promising talents of its young competitors and resilience under pressure.