Niklas Edin
Niklas Edin (born 6 July 1985) is a Swedish curler who serves as the skip for the Swedish national men's curling team, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished players in the sport's history.[1][2] Raised on a dairy farm in Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrland County, Sweden, Edin began curling in 1999 at age 14, inspired by the Swedish women's team's bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.[3][4] Standing at 171 cm and weighing 80 kg, he has competed at the elite level for over two decades, amassing an extraordinary record that includes three Olympic medals—gold at Beijing 2022, silver at PyeongChang 2018, and bronze at Sochi 2014—along with a fourth-place finish at Vancouver 2010.[3][4] Edin's dominance extends to the World Men's Curling Championships, where he has secured a record seven gold medals (2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024), more than any other skip in history.[3] He has also claimed seven European Men's Curling Championship titles (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019), solidifying Sweden's status as a curling powerhouse under his leadership.[3] As of 2025, Edin skips a powerhouse rink featuring third Oskar Eriksson, second Rasmus Wranå, and lead Christoffer Sundgren, all Karlstad Curling Club members.Early Life and Junior Career
Background and Introduction to Curling
Niklas Edin was born on July 6, 1985, in Sidensjö, a small village near Örnsköldsvik in northern Sweden.[5] Growing up on his family's dairy farm, Edin was the son of a farmer father and a teacher mother who had a personal interest in figure skating rather than curling, with no family tradition in the sport.[6] The rural environment and proximity to Örnsköldsvik, a region known for its strong sports culture—particularly hockey—influenced his active childhood, where he participated in multiple activities including soccer, tennis, orienteering, and ice hockey to build endurance and teamwork skills.[5] Edin's introduction to curling came in 1999 at the age of 14, shortly after watching Sweden's women's team, skipped by Elisabet Gustafson, earn a bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.[7] Motivated by this national achievement and his own competitive drive, he tried the sport at a local rink and was immediately captivated.[6] He joined Örnsköldsviks Curlingklubb, the community club in his hometown, where he began regular training alongside other youth athletes.[8] As a teenager, Edin progressed through a local sports class in Örnsköldsvik that emphasized multi-sport development, entering a structured program with a focus on curling by age 16 when he joined Sweden's national curling academy.[5] His early experiences were shaped by the club's supportive environment and the town's emphasis on disciplined, team-based athletics, fostering his commitment to the precision and strategy of curling without specific mentors highlighted in his initial years. This foundation prepared him for entry into junior-level competitions.[6]Junior Achievements and First Major Wins
Edin began competing in junior curling events in Sweden during his mid-teens, quickly establishing himself as a promising talent. By 2004, at the age of 18, he earned his first major international success by skipping Sweden to the gold medal at the European Junior Curling Championships, followed by gold at the World Junior Curling Championships in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.[3] Leading a team consisting of third Nils Carlsén, second Jörgen Granberg, lead Fredrik Lindberg, and alternate Anders Eriksson from Örnsköldsviks CK, Edin guided the squad to an impressive 10-1 round-robin record. In the gold medal final against Switzerland, skipped by Stefan Rindlisbacher, Edin sealed the 5-4 victory with a precise takeout on a partially buried stone using his final rock of the 10th end to score two points.[9][10] Following this breakthrough, Edin continued to excel in junior competition while beginning to gain experience in senior events. In 2006, he contributed to another silver medal for Sweden at the World Junior Curling Championships in Jeonju, South Korea, this time playing third on Nils Carlsén's team from Sundbybergs CK, alongside second Marcus Hasselborg, lead Emanuel Allberg, and alternate Fredrik Lindberg. The team finished with a strong performance but lost in the final to Canada, skipped by Charley Thomas. That same year, Edin made his senior international debut at the World Men's Curling Championship, playing third for Carlsén's rink, marking an early transition toward adult-level play.[11][8] Edin returned as skip for the 2007 World Junior Curling Championships in Eveleth, Minnesota, USA, leading a Sundbybergs CK team with third Marcus Hasselborg, second Emanuel Allberg, lead Fredrik Lindberg, and alternate Kristian Lindström to the silver medal. Sweden reached the final but lost 8-3 to Canada, skipped by Charley Thomas, after a solid tournament showing. Edin's performances in these junior events, combined with his emerging role in senior competitions, positioned him for a full shift to men's curling by 2008, where he would begin building his professional career.[12]Men's Curling Career
Team Edin I: Building the Foundation (2008–2014)
In 2008, Niklas Edin relocated to Karlstad and assembled his first major men's team, consisting of third Sebastian Kraupp, second Fredrik Lindberg, and lead Viktor Kjäll, all affiliated with Karlstads CK. This lineup provided a stable foundation, drawing on Edin's experience from junior successes to establish strong team cohesion and strategic play. The group focused on consistent performance in domestic and international competitions, with no major lineup adjustments until the period's end.[13] The team's breakthrough came early with a gold medal at the 2009 European Curling Championships in Aberdeen, Scotland, where they defeated Switzerland's Ralph Stöckli 6-5 in the final after posting a 9-2 round-robin record. This victory marked Edin's first senior international title as skip and highlighted the team's precision in high-pressure situations. Building on this momentum, Team Edin progressed steadily on the World Curling Tour, securing notable wins such as the 2010 Lucerne Curling Challenge and consistent top finishes in events like the Border International and Twin Anchors Invitational, which elevated their global ranking and prepared them for major championships.[14] By 2013, the team's development culminated in their first World Men's Curling Championship title in Victoria, Canada. They advanced through the playoffs with a narrow 6-5 victory over Scotland in the 1 vs. 2 page playoff, then claimed gold in the final by defeating Canada's Brad Jacobs 8-6, scoring two points in the first, third, and eighth ends to secure the win. This achievement, Edin's inaugural world gold, underscored the lineup's tactical maturity and shot accuracy, with Kjäll's sweeping contributing to a 95% success rate in the final.[15][16] At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Team Edin earned Sweden's first men's curling Olympic medal with bronze. They upset Canada 7-6 in round-robin play on February 11, stealing points in the later ends to clinch the victory, but fell 6-5 to Great Britain in the semifinal on February 19 after a tight battle where David Murdoch's final draw sealed the loss. Rebounding in the bronze-medal game, they beat China 6-4 on February 21, stealing two in the 10th end following Chinese errors to secure the podium finish. The Olympic campaign reflected the team's resilience, though it also exposed areas for refinement in closing out close contests.[17][18]Team Edin II: Challenges and Adjustments (2014–2016)
Following the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Team Edin underwent a significant roster overhaul to address performance inconsistencies and build toward future competitions. Second Fredrik Lindberg retired from competitive play shortly after the Games to focus on personal matters, prompting skip Niklas Edin to merge his rink with that of rival Oskar Eriksson. The new lineup featured Edin at skip, Eriksson at third, Kristian Lindström at second, and Christoffer Sundgren at lead, marking a strategic shift toward greater experience and versatility in the front end.[19][20][21] This restructured team quickly reasserted itself on the international stage, capturing gold at the 2014 European Curling Championships in Champéry, Switzerland, where they topped the round-robin standings with a 9-2 record before defeating Scotland in the final. They defended the title at the 2015 European Curling Championships in Esbjerg, Denmark, securing another gold with a dominant performance that included key wins over strong contenders like Switzerland and Norway. The streak continued at the 2016 European Curling Championships in Braehead, Scotland, where Sweden again claimed gold, defeating Denmark 8-6 in the championship game after a 7-2 round-robin record. However, the period was not without hurdles, as the team experienced close losses in various tours, including a 6-5 defeat to Switzerland's Pascal Hess in the qualifying round of the 2014 European Masters, highlighting ongoing adjustments to the new dynamic.[22][7] The pinnacle of this transitional era came at the 2015 World Men's Curling Championship in Halifax, Canada, where Team Edin earned their second world gold. After finishing third in the round-robin with an 8-3 record, they advanced by beating Finland 7-4 in the Page 3-4 playoff game, then ousted host Canada 6-3 in the semifinal, with Edin making crucial draws to secure the victory. In the final against Norway's Thomas Ulsrud, Sweden stole three points in the first end and added threes in the fifth and seventh to win 9-4, solidifying the team's recovery from Olympic disappointment.[23][24][25] Despite these successes, the team faced performance dips, particularly in the Grand Slam of Curling events, where early exits underscored the need for further refinement. For instance, at the 2015 Elite 10 in Calgary, they reached the final but fell 6-5 to Canada's Mike McEwen, while earlier in the 2014-15 season, they exited the qualifying round of select tours prematurely, such as a 1-2 record in the 2014 European Masters that prevented advancement. Heading into 2016 Olympic preparations, the roster saw another adjustment with the addition of Rasmus Wranå at second, replacing Lindström to inject youth and speed into the lineup. Edin emphasized an intensified practice regimen as a core strategy, focusing on repetitive drills to build consistency and mental resilience ahead of the Games.[26][27]Team Edin III: Peak Dominance and Olympic Success (2016–2025)
Team Edin entered its most dominant phase in 2016 with a stable lineup consisting of skip Niklas Edin, third Oskar Eriksson, second Rasmus Wranå, and lead Christoffer Sundgren, a configuration that remained unchanged through the subsequent decade and propelled Sweden to unprecedented success on the international stage.[28][2] This quartet built on prior adjustments by emphasizing precision sweeping and strategic shot-making, culminating in a series of world and Olympic triumphs that solidified Edin's legacy as one of curling's elite skips. The team's breakthrough came at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where they secured silver after a 10-7 final loss to the United States, marking Sweden's first Olympic medal in men's curling since 2014.[3] Building momentum, Edin led Sweden to gold at the 2018 World Men's Curling Championship in Las Vegas, defeating Canada 7-3 in the final to claim his fourth world title overall.[1] The following year, they repeated as world champions at the 2019 event in Lethbridge, defeating Canada 7-2 in the final, while also capturing European gold in Helsinki with a 9-3 victory over Switzerland in the final.[29][1][30] These victories highlighted the team's resilience, particularly Eriksson's versatile play across positions and Sundgren's consistent lead performance. The 2021 and 2022 seasons further elevated Team Edin, with world golds in Markkleeberg (defeating Scotland 10-5 in the 2021 final) and Las Vegas (overcoming Scotland 4-3 in 2022), bringing Edin's tally to six world titles.[1][31] This period also saw Olympic glory at the 2022 Beijing Games, where Sweden clinched gold with a 5-4 extra-end win over Great Britain in the final, ending a decades-long drought for the nation's men's team.[32] Complementing these majors, the team achieved a rare Grand Slam sweep across the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, winning the Masters, Canadian Open, Players' Championship, and Champions Cup in consecutive campaigns, a feat that underscored their tour dominance.[33] Post-Olympic, Team Edin maintained excellence, securing European gold in 2017 by going 8-1 in round-robin play and defeating Scotland in the final.[34] The 2023 World Championship featured one of curling's most iconic moments when Edin executed a "super spinner" shot in the 10th end against Canada during the bronze-medal game, applying extreme rotation to curl the stone around guards and score two points for an 8-7 victory.[35] In 2024, they reclaimed the world title in Schaffhausen, outlasting Canada 6-5 in a last-shot draw by Edin to secure their fifth gold with this lineup.[3] The 2024-25 season began with mixed results, including a 2-2 record at the Baden Masters in August, where they started strongly but missed the playoffs.[36] At the Sun City Cup in October, the team advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Finland 6-2 in qualifying before a competitive exit.[37] At the 2025 World Men's Curling Championship in Moose Jaw, Sweden finished the round robin with an 8-4 record to secure a playoff spot, but fell 8-7 to Scotland in the qualification playoff, settling for fourth place overall.[38][39] This era of peak performance, marked by five world titles, two Olympic medals, and two European crowns, established Team Edin as a benchmark for consistency and high-stakes execution in men's curling.Mixed Doubles and International Team Events
Edin has showcased his versatility beyond men's team curling through participation in mixed doubles events on the World Curling Tour, partnering with various female curlers to adapt his skip role to the two-player format. The format requires enhanced communication and strategic flexibility, as each player alternates throwing stones while sweeping for both, differing from the specialized roles in four-person teams. Edin's precise shot-making and leadership have been key in these settings, allowing him to execute complex draws and hits under pressure.[2] A notable early success came in 2018 when Edin teamed with Canada's Rachel Homan for the inaugural mixed doubles competition at the WCT Arctic Cup in Dudinka, Russia. The pair won all their matches, defeating the field to claim the title and demonstrating Edin's ability to integrate seamlessly with an international partner.[40] Later that year, he paired with Anna Hasselborg in a mixed doubles match at the Continental Cup of Curling in Regina, Canada, securing a victory for Team World against Team North America and contributing to their overall lead in the event. The Continental Cup features mixed formats like doubles and skins games, where Edin has competed multiple times since 2013, often as a standout performer for Team World.[41] In 2020, Edin partnered with Emma Sjödin for the Oberstdorf International Mixed Doubles Cup in Germany, reaching the semifinals before a narrow loss, and later that year, the duo won the WCT Tallinn Mixed Doubles International in Estonia. These results underscored his competitive edge in the discipline during a season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, Edin has teamed with Agnes Knochenhauer in domestic qualifiers, such as the 2024 Swedish Mixed Doubles World Qualification event, where they posted a 1-3 record but gained valuable experience for potential future international play. Through these endeavors up to 2025, Edin's mixed doubles involvement has complemented his dominant men's career, highlighting his all-around expertise in the sport.[42][43]Major Achievements and Records
Olympic Medals and Participation
Niklas Edin's Olympic career in curling spans four Winter Games, beginning with a fourth-place finish in Vancouver 2010, where his team lost the bronze medal match to Switzerland. He did not participate in the 2006 Turin Olympics due to his emerging team status as a young curler.[3][2] At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Edin qualified as skip for Sweden by virtue of the team's European Championship title the previous year.[13] The lineup consisted of Edin (skip), Sebastian Kraupp (third), Fredrik Lindberg (second), Viktor Kjäll (lead), and Oscar Ericsson (alternate). Sweden advanced to the semifinals with an 8-1 round-robin record but lost 6-5 to Canada before securing bronze with a 9-3 victory over Great Britain in the medal match.[44][45] In PyeongChang 2018, Edin's team earned qualification through strong performances at the World Championships, which contributed to Olympic selection.[3] The roster featured Edin (skip), Oskar Eriksson (third), Rasmus Wranå (second), Christoffer Sundgren (lead), and Henrik Leifveh (alternate). Sweden topped the round-robin standings with a 7-2 record, defeated Canada 6-3 in the semifinals, and claimed silver after a 10-7 loss to the United States in the final.[46][47] Edin's quest culminated at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where his team faced preparation challenges amid COVID-19 protocols, including restricted training in isolation bubbles and health monitoring.[48] The lineup remained Edin (skip), Eriksson (third), Wranå (second), Sundgren (lead), with Daniel Magnusson as alternate. Sweden posted an 8-1 round-robin record, beat Canada 4-3 in the semifinals, and won gold in an extra-end thriller against Great Britain, 5-4—the first Olympic gold for Sweden in men's curling.[49][50] Over his Olympic appearances, Edin amassed three medals—gold, silver, and bronze—establishing a unique record as the only skip in World Curling Federation history to achieve this distinction across multiple Games.[2][3]World and European Championship Titles
Niklas Edin has achieved unparalleled success in the World Men's Curling Championship, securing a record seven gold medals as skip, more than any other individual in the event's history.[51] His victories came in 2013 in Victoria, Canada; 2015 in Halifax, Canada; 2018 in Las Vegas, USA; 2019 in Regina, Canada; 2021 in Calgary, Canada; 2022 in Las Vegas, USA; and 2024 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.[2] These triumphs include a three-peat from 2018 to 2021 (with the 2020 edition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and another two consecutive wins in 2021 and 2022, underscoring his team's consistency during a dominant era.[52] Edin's streak of seven consecutive appearances in the world final from 2018 to 2024 further highlights his prowess, as no other skip has matched this feat in the modern era of the competition.[53] A pivotal moment in Edin's world championship legacy occurred during the 2023 playoffs in Ottawa, Canada, where he executed a remarkable "super spinner" shot in the 10th end against Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell. With Sweden trailing 6-5, Edin's stone, thrown with an extraordinary 50 rotations per second—far exceeding the typical 2-4 spins—curved dramatically to remove a Norwegian stone and tie the game, forcing an extra end that Sweden ultimately won 7-6.[54] This innovative shot, hailed as one of the greatest in curling history, propelled Sweden to the final, though they settled for silver after a 7-4 loss to Canada. Edin's overall medal progression at worlds reflects steady excellence: bronzes in 2011 and 2012, silvers in 2014 and 2017, and the seven golds, cementing Sweden's status as a powerhouse under his leadership.[2]| Year | Location | Result | Opponent in Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Victoria, Canada | Gold | Canada |
| 2015 | Halifax, Canada | Gold | Norway |
| 2018 | Las Vegas, USA | Gold | Scotland |
| 2019 | Regina, Canada | Gold | Switzerland |
| 2021 | Calgary, Canada | Gold | Scotland |
| 2022 | Las Vegas, USA | Gold | Canada |
| 2024 | Schaffhausen, Switzerland | Gold | Canada |
| Year | Location | Result | Opponent in Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aberdeen, Scotland | Gold | Switzerland |
| 2012 | Karlstad, Sweden | Gold | Norway |
| 2014 | Champéry, Switzerland | Gold | Norway |
| 2015 | Esbjerg, Denmark | Gold | Switzerland |
| 2016 | Renfrew, Scotland | Gold | Norway |
| 2017 | St. Gallen, Switzerland | Gold | Scotland |
| 2019 | Helsingborg, Sweden | Gold | Switzerland |