Swedish Women Skiers Clinch Historic Gold in Olympic Sprint Relay

The Swedish women's ski team showcased remarkable dominance at the 2026 Winter Olympics by securing the gold medal in the sprint relay event, marking Sweden's first gold in this discipline since 2006. The victorious duo, Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist, delivered an outstanding performance, with Sundling executing a decisive surge on her second leg that cemented their lead.

During the qualification round, the Swedish women outpaced rivals by a wide margin, finishing nearly 15 seconds ahead of Finland. Sundling particularly impressed by overtaking Norwegian Astrid Öyre Slind, turning a 15-second deficit into a 12.43-second lead. SVT expert Anders Blomquist noted that Sundling may have pushed herself "maybe unnecessarily fast," highlighting the team's strength but hinting at the need for energy conservation.

Dahlqvist, who stepped in due to the illness of regular team member Linn Svahn, expressed great joy and relief to compete. She previously earned a World Championship gold and an Olympic silver alongside Sundling, who now holds two silvers and this gold from the current Games. Despite Switzerland's attempt to close the gap on the final leg, the Swedish pair maintained a commanding lead to secure victory.

This success is a bright spot amid the broader Olympic experience for Swedish women skiers, who had faced setbacks including a fall that dashed hopes for gold in the relay event, as well as generally modest finishes in other events. However, the sprint relay gold illustrates their resilience and the strength of their sprint specialists. The men's team also qualified for the final but ultimately placed 12th.

Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist’s triumph establishes Sweden once again as a powerhouse in women's sprint skiing, promising continued success in future competitions.