We’re not a very boasting or proud country. You’ll never find us standing on top of a chair at a bar obnoxiously yelling our country’s name (cough like the US cough). That’s just not us and we’re okay with that. But, contrary to worldwide belief we do find moments stuck in between the cracks of our modesty when we find ourselves feeling a sense of pride. Especially when we’re noticed by those who work their ass off to represent our name and the large mass of land we call home.
Take the Hockey World Championships for example. When we won the title just last year a sense of dignity flooded the country. We had been crowned number one in the world in a sport we’ve grown up watching, playing and rooting for. That kind of accomplishment by our hard working athletes is something we can be proud of and we can choose to boast a bit about.
Now the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia have arrived and with four days in two of our own have been crowned among the world’s best and we’re looking ahead for more. Both triumphs were in Cross-Country Skiing. Sweden’s first medal in this year’s Olympics was by Charlotte Kalla in the Women’s 15km skiathlon. The second was by Marcus Hellner in the Men’s 30km skiathlon. Both performed better than anticipated and built up our country’s morale for winning some events.
So what’s the low-down on the events that include the blue & yellow? We compiled a small list for you to refer to so you don’t miss out on future possible wins!
ALPINE SKIING
Men
Giant Slalom: Completed on Feb. 19
-Matts Olsson: Rank #14
Time – 1:23.01 (Run 1) 1:24.05 (Run 2) 2:47.06 (Total)
Deficit: +1.77
Slalom: Feb. 22
Run 1 (13:45)
Run 2 (17:15)
-Axel Bäck
-Mattias Hargin
-Markus Larsson
-Andre Myhrer
Women
Super Combined: Completed on Feb. 10
-Sara Hector: Rank #13
Time – 1:46.54 (Downhill) 51:31 (Slalom) 2:37.85 (Total)
Downhill: Feb. 12 (09:00)
-Sara Hector: Rank #23
Time – 1:43.69 (Deficit: +2.12)
-Sara Hector: Rank #25
Time – 1:44.23 (Deficit: ++2.66)
Super-G: Feb. 15 (08:00)
-Sara Hector: Rank #21
Time – 1:28.71 (Deficit: +3.19)
Giant Slalom: Completed on Feb. 18
-Jessica Lindell-Vikarby: Rank #6
1:19.45 (Run 1) 1:18.37 (Run 2) 2:37.82 (Total)
Deficit: +0.95
-Maria Pietilä Holmner: Rank #7
1:18.40 (Run 1) 1:19.62 (Run 2) 2:38.02 (Total)
Deficit: +1.15
-Frida Hansdotter: Rank #13
1:20.51 (Run 1) 1:19.34 (Run 2) 2:39.85 (Total)
Deficit: +2.98
-Kajsa Kling: Rank #18
1:20.47 (Run 1) 1:19.83 (Run 2) 2:40.30 (Total)
Deficit: +3.43
Slalom: Feb. 21
Run 1 (13:45)
Run 2 (17:15)
-Frida Hansdotter
-Maria Pietilä Holmner
-Anna Swenn-Larsson
-Emelie Wikström
BIATHLON (Men Only)
Men’s Sprint: Completed on Feb. 8
-Fredrik Lindström, Rank #18
25:21.0 (+47.5 deficit), 0 Misses
-Carl-Johan Bergman, Rank #24
25:35.9 (+1:02.4 deficit), 1 Miss
-Björn Ferry, Rank #25
25:36.4 (+1:02.9 deficit), 2 Misses
-Tobias Arwidson, Rank #42
26:11.8 (+1:38.3 deficit), 1 Miss
Men’s Pursuit: Completed on Feb. 10
-Fredrik Lindström, Rank #13
34:45.7 (+57.1 deficit)
-Tobias Arwidson, Rank #28
35:51.2 (+2:02.6)
-Björn Ferry, Rank #30
36:06.9 (+2:18.3)
-Carl-Johan Bergman, Rank #34
Men’s Team Relay: Feb. 22
Team TBD
Cross-Country Skiing
Men
30km Skiathlon: Completed on Feb. 9 (All our skiers finished in the top 15!)
-Marcus Hellner (SILVER MEDAL)
1:08:15.8 (+.4 deficit)
-Daniel Richardsson, Rank #7
1:08:31.7 (+16.3 deficit)
-Lars Nelson, Rank #10
1:08:37.7 (+22.3 deficit)
-Anders Södergren, Rank #14
1:08:46.9 (+31.5 deficit)
Sprint Free: Completed on Feb. 11 (Medaled)
-Teodor Peterson (SILVER MEDAL)
3:39.61 (+1.22)
-Emil Jönsson (BRONZE MEDAL)
3:58.13 (+19.74)
-Marcus Hellner, Rank #6
5:24.31 (+1:45.92)
4x10km Relay: Completed on Feb. 16 GOLD MEDAL
Daniel Richardsson
Johan Olsson
Lars Nelson
Marcus Hellner
Time – 1:28:42.0
Men’s Team Sprint: Completed on Feb. 19 (BRONZE MEDAL)
Emil Jönsson
Teodor Peterson
Time – 23:30.01 (Deficit: +15.12)
Women
15km Skiathlon: Completed on Feb. 8 (Medaled)
-Carlotte Kalla (SILVER MEDAL)
38:35.4 (+1.8 deficit)
-Emma Wiken, Rank #9
40:07.2 (+1:33.6)
-Sara Lindborg, Rank #20
40:32.4 (+1:58.8)
-Britta Johansson Norgren, Rank #39
41:51.0 (+3.17.4)
Sprint Free: Completed on Feb. 11
-Ida Ingemarsdotter, Rank #5
Time – 2:42.04 (+6.55)
Ladies Classic: Completed on Feb. 13 (MEDALED)
-Carlotte Kalla (SILVER)
Time – 28:36.2 (Deficit +18.4)
Ladies’ Team Sprint: Feb. 19 (BRONZE MEDAL)
Ida Ingemarsdotter
Stina Nilsson
Time – 16:23.82 (Deficit: +19.77)
4X5km Relay: Completed on Feb. 15 (GOLD MEDAL)
Anna Haag
Charlotte Kalla
Emma Wikén
Ida Ingemarsdotter
Time – 53:02.7
CURLING
Men: Round-Robin
Team: Niklas Edin (Skip), Sebastian Kraupp, Viktor Kjäll, Fredrik Lindberg, & Oscar Erikssson (reserve)
Draw 1: Sweden 7 v. Switzerland 5 (Completed on Feb. 10) W
Draw 2: Sweden 8 v. Great Britain 4 (Completed on Feb. 10) W
Draw 3: Sweden 7 v. Canada 6 (Completed on Feb. 11) W
Draw 4: Sweden 5 v. Denmark 8 (Completed on Feb. 12) L
Draw 5: Sweden 5 v. 4 Norway (Completed on Feb. 13) W
Draw 6: Sweden 6 v. China 5 (Completed on Feb. 14) W
Draw 7: Sweden 8 v. Germany 4 (Completed on Feb. 15) W
Draw 8: Sweden 8 v. Russia 4 (Completed on Feb. 16) W
Draw 9: Sweden 6 v. USA 4 (Completed on Feb. 16) W
Semifinal: Sweden 5 v. Great Britain 6 (Completed on Feb. 19) L
Final (for Bronze): Sweden v. China (Feb. 21 @ 9:30)
Women: Round Robin
Team: Margaretha Sigfridsson (Skip), Maria Prytz, Christina Bertrup, Maria Wennerström & Agnes Knochenhauer (reserve)
Draw 1: Sweden 6 v. Great Britain 4 (Completed on Feb. 10) W
Draw 2: Sweden 3 v. Canada 9 (Completed on Feb. 11) L
Draw 3: Sweden 7 v. South Korea 4 (Completed on Feb. 12) W
Draw 4: Sweden 9 v. Switzerland 8 (Completed on Feb. 13) W
Draw 5: Sweden 7 v. Denmark 6 (Completed on Feb. 13) W
Draw 6: Sweden 6 v. China 7 (Completed on Feb. 15) L
Draw 7: Sweden 7 v. USA 6 (Completed on Feb. 15) W
Draw 8: Sweden 5 v. Russia 4 (Completed on Feb. 16) W
Draw 9: Sweden 8 v. Japan 4 (Completed on Feb. 17) W
Semifinal: Sweden 7 v. Switzerland 5 (Completed on Feb. 19) W
Final (For Gold): Sweden v. Canada (Feb 20 @ 14:30)
FIGURE SKATING
Men
Men’s Short Program: Completed on Feb. 13
-Alexander Majorov, Rank #14
83.81 (Short Program)
141.05 (Free Skating)
224.86 (Total)
Women
Women’s Short Program: Completed on Feb. 19
-Viktoria Helgesson
47.84 (Short Program)
FREESTYLE SKIING
Men
Moguls: Completed on Feb. 10
-Per Spett, Rank #11
-Ludvig Fjällström, Rank #19
Slopestyle: Qualification on Feb. 13 (12:15)
-Henrik Harlaut: Rank #6
83.80 (Run 1) 84.40 (Run 2)
Women
Ski Cross: Qualification on Feb. 21 (08:45)
-Anna Holmlund
-Sandra Näslund
Slopestyle: Completed on Feb. 11
-Emma Dahlström, Rank #5
Highest Score: 75.40
ICE HOCKEY
Men
Roster: Jhonas Enroth (G), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D), Niklas Hjalmarsson (D), Henrik Tallinder (D), Daniel Alfredsson (F-Alternate Captain), Patrik Berglund (F), Marcus Krüger (F), Jakob Silfverberg (F), Nicklas Bäckström (F), Alexander Steen (F), Loui Eriksson (F), Daniel Sedin (F), Alexander Edler (D), Johnny Oduya (D), Henrik Lundqvist (G), Henrik Sedin (F – Alternate Captain), Henrik Zetterberg (F – Capitain), Gustav Nyquist (F), Jimmie Ericsson (F), Jonas Gustavsson (G), Jonathan Ericsson (D), Niklas Kronwall (D), Carl Hagelin (F), Erik Karlsson (D), Gabriel Landeskog (F)
Group Stage: Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, Switzerland
Sweden 4 v. Czech Republic 2 (Completed on Feb. 12) W
Sweden 1 v. Switzerland 0 (Completed on Feb. 14) W
Sweden 5 v. Latvia 3 (Completed on Feb. 15) W
Quarterfinal: Sweden 5 v. Slovenia 0 (Completed on Feb. 19) W
Semifinal: Sweden v. Finland (Feb. 21 @ 13:00)
Women
Roster: Sara Grahn (G), Sofia Engström (D), Jenni Asserholt (F – Captain), Lina Bäcklin (D), Johanna Olofsson (D), Josefine Holmgren (D), Emilia Andersson (D), Cecilia Östberg (F), Lina Wester (F), Pernilla Winberg (F), Linnea Bäckman (D), Anna Borgqvist (F), Maria Lindh (F), Fanny Rask (F), Erica Udén Johansson (F), Emma Eliasson (D), Erika Grahm (F), Emma Nordin (F), Michelle Löwenhielm (F), Kim Martin Hasson (G), Valentina Wallner (G)
Group Stage: Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden
Sweden 1 v. Japan 0 (Completed on Feb. 9) W
Sweden 4 v. Germany 0 (Completed on Feb. 11) W
Sweden 1 v. Russia 3 (Completed on Feb. 13) L
Quarterfinal: Sweden 4 v. Finland 2 (Completed on Feb. 15) W
Semifinal: Sweden 1 v. USA 6 (Completed on Feb. 17) L
Final (For Bronze): Sweden v. Switzerland (Feb. 20 @ 13:00)
SNOWBOARDING
Men
Freestyle: Completed on Feb. 8
-Sven Thorgren, Rank #4
Best Run: 87.50
-Niklas Mattsson, Did not place
Best Run: 44.75
SPEED SKATING
Men
1000m: Completed on Feb. 12
-David Andersson, Rank #38
Time – 1:12.40 (Deficit: +4.01)
1500m: Completed on Feb. 15
-David Andersson, Rank #38
Time – 1:50.29 (Deficit: +5.29)
