Frida Karlsson’s Olympic Onslaught Helps Sweden Sweep Women’s Cross‑Country Podiums
Frida Karlsson cemented her status as the standout performer of the winter Games with a commanding victory in the women's 10km interval start on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 (ET), helping power Sweden to an astonishing haul of seven of nine medals awarded so far in women's cross‑country events. Her gold — achieved with a rare margin of more than 45 seconds — followed earlier triumphs for the Swedish women across multiple disciplines.
Karlsson’s runaway 10km win
Karlsson crossed the finish in 22 minutes, 49. 2 seconds, opening a gap seldom seen at Olympic level. Teammate Ebba Andersson took silver in a Swedish 1‑2, while an American veteran rounded out the podium. Karlsson’s steady surges on the climbs and disciplined technique allowed her to build and never relinquish the lead.
Swedish depth on full display
This result added to a remarkable stretch for Sweden: Karlsson had already taken gold in the 20km skiathlon earlier in the Games, and the sprint classic saw a full Swedish sweep with Linn Svahn, Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist occupying the podium. The blue‑and‑yellow flag has become a fixture at the Tesero venue as fans chant and celebrate a team that appears to have peaked at exactly the right moment.
Team chemistry and confidence
Andersson, who again finished second to Karlsson, summed up the mood in the Swedish camp with a mix of amusement and pride. She emerged from the course laughing and wearing a gold party hat scrawled with a personal message to Karlsson, capturing the camaraderie behind the results. "It’s a crazy gap. She’s from another world these days, " Andersson said, noting how relaxed and eager the team feels now compared with past Olympics when preparation felt more like donning armor.
How Karlsson built the margin
Karlsson attributed the performance to rhythm, coaching and the energy from the crowd. "It felt really good in my body and I found a good rhythm. The crowd was amazing, too, " she said, adding that the worst of the pain only hit after she crossed the line. Technically, her race was a master class in pacing: a conservative opening, targeted surges on the hills, and near‑flawless glide in the flats that steadily widened her lead while rivals struggled to match her tempo.
Rivals fighting back and American resilience
Norwegian contenders filled several of the top‑10 spots but were unable to close the gap to the Swedes. The United States has shown flashes of promise: one American earned a podium spot in the 10km interval event, while another faced misfortune in the longer skiathlon after a first‑lap crash that cost precious time. Despite setbacks, American skiers stressed encouragement and determination to regroup for remaining races.
What this means for the remainder of the Games
Sweden’s surge reshapes the outlook for the remainder of the cross‑country schedule. Momentum and confidence are on the side of Karlsson and her teammates, who have demonstrated both individual brilliance and collective depth. For rivals, the challenge is clear: find ways to disrupt Karlsson’s rhythm and to mount sustained pressure across multiple events before the curtain falls on the Milan‑Cortina program.
