It was more or less crushed Swedish players after the ultimately clear defeat, 25–30, in the bronze match against Denmark.
It was so incredibly close that this became the tournament when the handball ladies broke a barrier and reached the Olympic Games final.
Instead, it ended with Sweden leaving its second consecutive Olympic Games as fourth, in many ways the worst possible placement one can imagine.
"Emptiness and disappointment"
After the final whistle in Lille, Johanna Bundsen sat down in the goal. Everything was over. The 33-year-old used her goalkeeper jersey to try to wipe away tears, while Nathalie Hagman came up and gave her a hug.
I feel emptiness and disappointment. Unbelievably tough, says Bundsen when she later gives interviews after the match.
After the semifinal loss to France, she couldn't even stay and talk. Now she's making an attempt, even though it's clear it's tough.
We've fought hard and I'm incredibly proud of this gang. But it's not enough.
Then it breaks again for Bundsen.
She has had an absolutely brilliant Olympic Games. All the way from the opening premiere win against finalist Norway to the big game in the "almost-brag" in the semifinal against the other finalist, France.
But when the battle for bronze was to be decided early on Saturday morning, neither Sweden nor Bundsen was really recognizable.
Denmark does it better than we do today. They're a little sharper and I don't get up to level. It's many small things that decide, it's incredibly bitter.
Last chance
For many of the key players in this national team, this was perhaps also the last chance in their careers to grab an Olympic medal. Both Bundsen and Nathalie Hagman will be 37 years old when the Olympic Games are decided in Los Angeles in four years. Jamina Roberts will be 38, Linn Blohm 36.
I'm not that far ahead in my head right now, my focus has been here and now today. So we'll see what the future holds, says Bundsen.
The only one of the veterans who is already counting herself out of a new Olympic chance is right-back Hagman.
I don't think I'll play in LA 2028. I'll be old then, she says.
Already at the end of November, a new championship awaits when Sweden will play in the European Championship.
But it was no comfort on a day like this.
