Sweden Completes Historic Podium Sweep as Linn Svahn Claims Cross-Country Sprint Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Sweden delivered one of the most dominant performances in Winter Olympics cross-country skiing history on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, as Linn Svahn led a complete podium sweep in the women's sprint classic at Milano Cortina 2026. The 26-year-old Swedish star claimed gold with a commanding time of 4:03.05, finishing nearly a second ahead of compatriots Jonna Sundling (4:04.64) and Maja Dahlqvist (4:07.88) to complete a remarkable 1-2-3 finish for the Scandinavian nation.

The historic achievement marked the first time Sweden has placed three female athletes on the podium in the same event at a Winter Olympics, cementing the nation's dominance in cross-country skiing. The Swedish sweep was also the first podium clean sweep in any sport at the Milano Cortina Games and the first such achievement in cross-country skiing since Norway claimed all three medals in the men's skiathlon at PyeongChang 2018. The performance underscored Sweden's depth and excellence in the discipline, with all three athletes delivering spectacular performances throughout the qualifying rounds and finals.

For Svahn, the gold medal represented her first-ever Olympic title after years of near-misses and top finishes at world championships. The Östersund native dug deep in a spectacular final performance, displaying superior technique in the classic style and maintaining her speed through the demanding course conditions. Her time of 4:03.05 demonstrated complete control and efficiency, as she powered away from the field in the final meters to secure the victory. The emotion was evident as Svahn crossed the finish line, raising her arms in triumph before embracing her teammates who would soon join her on the podium.

Sundling, who claimed silver with her time of 4:04.64, showed characteristic grit and determination in finishing second. The 30-year-old veteran has been a consistent performer for Sweden over the past several years and added another Olympic medal to her impressive collection. Dahlqvist completed the Swedish celebration by taking bronze in 4:07.88, holding off challenges from Norwegian and American competitors in the final sprint. The three Swedish flags rising together during the medal ceremony created one of the most memorable images of the Milano Cortina Games.

The men's sprint classic also featured Nordic success, with Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo winning his seventh Olympic gold medal, though the United States' Ben Ogden delivered a breakthrough performance by claiming silver. Ogden's medal marked the first time in 50 years that an American man had reached the podium in Olympic cross-country skiing, ending a half-century drought and providing hope for the future of the sport in the United States. The combined results from both sprint events highlighted the continued dominance of Scandinavian nations in cross-country skiing.

With several more cross-country events still to come at Milano Cortina 2026, Sweden's dominant performance in the sprint classic has established them as favorites in multiple disciplines. The podium sweep not only added three medals to Sweden's overall tally but also sent a powerful message to competitors that the Swedish cross-country team is performing at peak level in Italy.