A lot has happened since the group of friends won bronze in Beijing four years ago.
Hasselborg, Agnes Knochenhauer and Sara McManus have become mothers. Sofia Scharback married and moved to Canada.
Fitting a demanding third Olympic bid into the new life puzzle was not the easiest. Children and family were prioritized and curling suffered. A feeling that their game was gradually getting worse spread through the group.
The question was finally raised: What kind of plan is required to be able to compete for the Olympics and be good enough to challenge for the medals?
"Less is more" became the model when it was time to seriously reach previous high levels.
Focus and quality
"This season we have chosen to play as little as possible. I appreciate that approach," says Anna Hasselborg.
More training, fewer matches, higher focus and more quality. We have had quantity throughout our lives and now it is quality that is needed.
On Friday, the quartet will enter the medal game in Cortina as the winners of the regular season. Canada awaits in the semifinals. Hasselborg's prediction just before the Olympics turned out to be correct.
We are more even technically, we are better technically, we have more understanding. I also think we are stronger on an individual level.
Hasselborg highlights the importance of coach Kristian Lindström.
"He has really come in and worked a lot on individual and technical development, making us stronger as individuals. So the goal at the Olympics is to bring those two things together: the strong individual and our strong team spirit," she says.
After six straight wins and a guaranteed semifinal spot, the slump came - a narrow loss against Canada and a poor match against South Korea.
“Best when it comes to”
A 9–4 win against China in the final match of the regular season was a welcome bounce back from the slump. Good for the mood and just as importantly, as the regular-season winner Sweden has the last stone in the first round of the semi-finals.
The Swedes are celebrating ten years together as a team. How big the celebration will be remains to be seen, but Anna Hasselborg believes that having already won Olympic gold and Olympic bronze is an advantage.
"It gives us peace of mind and security that we've done this before. We also know that we tend to be the best when it comes to it, quite simply. It's something that we appreciate and work for and we've kind of shown that we are," she says.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Team Hasselborg
TT
Players: Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Scharback, Johanna Heldin (reserve).
Coach: Kristian Lindstrom.
National team captain: Fredrik Lindberg.
Olympic achievements: Gold in Pyeongchang 2018, bronze in Beijing 2022.
Other championship medals: World Championship silver (2018 and 2019), European Championship gold (2018, 2019 and 2025), European Championship silver (2016, 2017, 2021 and 2024).
Current: Meets Canada in the semifinals of Olympic curling on Friday.
Friday: Semifinals: Sweden–Canada, USA–Switzerland (both 14.05).
Saturday: Bronze match (14.05).
Sunday: Final (11.05).
