2026 Winter Olympics: Ebba Andersson races on one ski after crash before Sweden’s relay silver comeback

Sweden’s women’s relay race at the Winter Olympics took a shocking turn when Ebba Andersson crashed, broke a ski, and kept going on one ski during her leg of the 4×7.5km cross-country relay.

The incident dropped Sweden from gold contention to seventh place, but the team later fought back and secured a silver medal in one of the most dramatic moments of the event.The live scene stunned viewers and commentators as Andersson refused to stop despite the setback. Her effort kept Sweden in the race long enough for her teammates to launch a comeback, turning what looked like disaster into a memorable finish.

Ebba Andersson’s crash, Frida Karlsson’s reaction and Sweden’s remarkable comeback in the 4×7.5km cross-country relay

The chaos began when Ebba Andersson fell during her leg of the relay.

Moments later she crashed again, and this time one of her skis snapped. Instead of giving up, the 28-year-old tucked the broken ski under her arm and pushed forward on one ski, trying to lose as little time as possible. BBC commentator Rob Walker reacted live, saying, “She’s fallen again. An absolute disaster and she’s lost a ski.” He added, “She’s doing her level best to catch it up.”At the changeover area, teammate Frida Karlsson could only watch as Sweden’s position slipped.

Walker described the moment, saying, “Frida Karlsson can barely bring herself to look.” A team assistant rushed out with a replacement ski but also fell, adding more tension to an already dramatic scene. Even then, Andersson kept moving, hopping and sliding forward until help reached her. Walker said, “This is what the Winter Olympics means. You keep going, you don’t give up and you don’t stop.”By the time Andersson completed her leg, Sweden had fallen to seventh place.

But the race was far from over.

Karlsson, along with teammates Jonna Sundling and Linn Svahn, attacked the final stages aggressively, gaining time with each lap. Their strong skiing pulled Sweden back into medal position, and they eventually crossed the line in second place to claim silver, finishing 50.9 seconds behind Norway.Walker later called Andersson’s recovery a “miracle,” praising her determination and quick thinking after the crash. What could have ended Sweden’s medal hopes instead became one of the most talked-about moments of the race, showing how resilience and teamwork can completely change the story within minutes.