Sweden’s Curling Success and Key Moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, concluded with notable achievements for Sweden, particularly in curling, alongside a range of compelling stories from across the games. From dominant performances on the ice to unexpected turns and emotional moments, the Olympics delivered a memorable spectacle.

Sweden’s Curling Dominance

Sweden’s women’s curling team, led by Anna Hasselborg, secured their fourth Olympic title with a narrow 6-5 victory over Switzerland. This win marks Hasselborg’s second Olympic gold medal as skip, joining an exclusive group of female curlers with multiple Olympic titles. The team consists of Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Sofia Scharback, and Agnes Knochenhauer. The Swedish team celebrated their victory, sharing the moment with their children.

Agnes Knochenhauer, born May 5, 1989, plays second on Team Anna Hasselborg. Her career includes appearances in ten World Championships (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and twelve European Championships (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025), in addition to her Olympic appearances in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.

Other Notable Moments

• Mixed Curling Success: Siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå captured gold in mixed curling, generating excitement in Sweden and boosting the sport’s popularity.
• Lindsey Vonn’s Final Race: Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn competed despite a serious knee injury, but suffered a broken tibia in a crash during the steeplechase.
• Ukrainian Athlete Controversy: Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevytj was removed from the Olympics due to displaying political symbols on his skeleton helmet, but was later honored by the President of Ukraine.
• King Carl Gustaf’s Reaction: King Carl Gustaf of Sweden expressed amazement at Ebba Andersson’s dramatic fall during the ski relay.
• Swedish Skiing Dominance: Swedish female skiers won all distances except the relay.
• Canadian Curling Incident: A controversy arose over Canadian curler Marc Kennedy’s alleged illegal stone release, leading to increased scrutiny from judges.
• Giant Slalom Tie: Sara Hector and Thea Louise Stjernesund of Norway tied for silver in the giant slalom.
• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s Record: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo became the first Winter Olympian to win six consecutive golds.
• Hockey Results: The Swedish men’s hockey team was eliminated in the quarter-finals, although the women’s team lost the bronze medal match to Switzerland.
• Ski Jumping Near Miss: Frida Westman finished fourth in the ski jumping big hill event.
• Biathlon Scandal: A gold medalist in biathlon had his celebration overshadowed by a teammate’s public confession of infidelity.
• Figure Skating Upset: Ilia Malinin, a pre-competition favorite, finished eighth in the figure skating free program.
• Dog on the Course: A dog ran onto the cross-country skiing course during a race.
• Italy’s Home Advantage: Italy achieved a successful Olympics, increasing their medal count significantly.
• Norwegian Athlete’s Disappointment: Atle Lie McGrath reacted to losing a lead in the slalom by heading into the forest.
• Trump’s Criticism: Former US President Donald Trump criticized American freestyle skater Hunter Hess.

Medal Standings and Overall Success

Norway topped the medal table, followed by the USA and the Netherlands. Sweden excelled in women’s events, securing six gold medals, tying with the Netherlands, USA, and Italy. The Milan-Cortina Olympics were praised for their widespread distribution of events and innovative approach to hosting the games.