Anton Dahlberg and Lovisa Karlsson burst out in a joyous night when the bronze was secured. They hugged each other on the boat, shining in their eyes.
Back on land, they jumped jubilantly into the water and were hugged by the Swedish team, including silver medalists Rebecca Netzler and Vilma Bobeck (silver in 49er FX). The Swedish flag was hoisted in the mast.
I think we made a fantastic achievement today, managed to deliver when it mattered most. To take a medal together with Lovisa, whom I admire extremely, it's huge, says Anton Dahlberg.
The Swedes had to get everything right in the decisive and final race. The top ten boats from the qualifying round in the Olympic sailing would compete for medals in the tricky bay in Marseille.
Not in their own hands
The Swedish pair was fourth before the final race. Therefore, they didn't quite have the power in their own hands, and countries like Spain needed to sail away.
The Swedish boat got off to a good start, a crucial moment in sailing, and found themselves in the middle of the field.
In the second turn, not much had changed. Dahlberg/Karlsson were hovering between medal and missed podium, and everything would be decided on the final stretch.
As they approached the finish line, it was crucial how Spain, which was in second place before the race, would place. The Swedes needed to have three boats between them and the Spaniards. Sweden finished fourth. And Spain finished ninth. The bronze was secured.
I didn't dare look back, is it three boats in between? In the half-wind towards the finish line, Anton starts saying that we have the bronze. Then I say "keep sailing to the finish, keep sailing all the way". And after the finish, when we realize we have the bronze. It's so many emotions, says Lovisa Karlsson.
Dahlberg, 39, is one of the most experienced Olympians in the Swedish team, he did his fifth Olympic Games and took his second medal. Karlsson did her second. They don't want to say anything about their future together and a possible bid for Los Angeles 2028.
First, we'll celebrate this and savor the caramel. It's been an absolutely fantastic journey, but it's tough to get the family puzzle together, says Anton Dahlberg.
Sweden has historically taken 38 Olympic medals in sailing since 1896, including 10 gold, 15 silver, and 13 bronze. After Thursday, the final score is 39.
Anton Dahlberg is 39 years old (born 1985). One of the most experienced Olympians in the team and does his fifth Olympic Games.
He took Olympic silver together with Fredrik Bergström in Tokyo 2021 in the 470 class.
Home club: Växjö Kappseglingsklubb. Competes for the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS).
Lovisa Karlsson is 29 years old (born 1995). She does her second Olympic Games. Finished 14th in the women's 470 class at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Home club: Hjuviks Båtklubb in Gothenburg. Competes for the Gothenburg Royal Yacht Club (GKSS).
The duo came 6th in the mixed 470 at the World Championship 2023, 7th at the World Championship 2024. They took European Championship gold in 2023 and 2022.
