Defending champion Sweden out of Olympic medal contention in men's curling

Sweden's men's curling team, led by skip Niklas Edin, has been eliminated from semifinal contention at the Winter Olympics with two matches remaining, ending their defense of the Olympic title after what Edin described as a 'horrible week' of competition. The Swedish team's disappointing performance comes in a tournament where they were widely considered among the favorites to repeat as champions. Edin, a four-time world champion who has led Sweden to multiple major victories, expressed his frustration with the team's inability to find consistency during the competition. The elimination marks a rare early exit for one of curling's most dominant teams in recent years, having previously medaled in three consecutive Olympic Games prior to this tournament. Sweden's struggles included difficulties with shot-making and communication on the ice, issues that proved insurmountable against the increasingly competitive international field in men's curling.