Sweden, Switzerland for Olympic Women’s Team Gold

Sweden and Switzerland will battle for Olympic women’s team curling gold, while North America will battle for bronze.

Friday semifinal action at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium saw Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg overwhelm Canada’s Rachel Homan 6-3 and Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni edge USA’s Tabitha Peterson 7-4.

Swiss fourth thrower Alina Paetz had to navigate a port to remove a USA steal stone on her last throw of the game.

Canada had recovered from losing three early games in a row to sit at 1-3 by assembled a nifty five-game winning streak.

On this day, however, Homan faced difficult shots and was clocked at a 68% shooting percentage compared to Hasselborg’s 81%.

The Swedes were charged up by the chance to return to the gold medal game. Team Hasselborg won it all at PyeongChang 2018 and added bronze four years ago in Beijing.

It was a different story for Switzerland one day after dropping their last round robin decision to USA, which let the Americans into the playoff party.

The Swiss maintained control through much of the game, managing the scoreboard to lead 5-4 with hammer coming home, whereupon Paetz made her and made a down-weight hit through a port for the deuce.

It’s sweet justice for curling fans who have seen Silvana Tirinzoni score multiple world championship medals but never a spot on an Olympic podium – until now.

Now the veteran Tirinzoni – this is believed to be her final season of competition – and Co. are guaranteed silver and will battle Sweden for gold on Sunday to wrap up the marathon 18-day tournament.

“It’s indescribable, to be honest,” said Tironzoni. “People always say that, but it’s true. We have achieved so many things together in the last eight years but this is even better than everything we have done so far.”

She was asked about her jubilant celebrations.

“How can you not be?” Tirinzoni replied. “I am an emotional person, but I don’t always show it. But this time I let it all out.”

The bronze battle between USA – a team which distinguished itself with strong play after poor efforts in Beijing and PyeongChang – and Canada takes place Saturday, prior to the men’s gold medal championship.

Tabitha Peterson’s squad defeated Canada 9-8 in their round robin matchup.

“We're just a little bit on the wrong side of the inch,” said Homan.

“They played a phenomenal game, and we never gave up. We stuck with each other ’till the end, and we’re not done here yet. 

“You’re not gonna win every game. We’re gonna come back and fight hard tomorrow.”