Jennie Wåhlin
The strategic alternate whose steady presence on the pebbled ice helped Sweden clinch Olympic curling gold in a tense, extra-end final.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Swedish curler·Birthday: November 26·Generation Z
Biography
Jennie Wåhlin entered the Olympic spotlight not as a skip throwing the final stone, but as the crucial fifth player, the alternate, for Anna Hasselborg's Swedish rink at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. In curling, the alternate is a test of patience and readiness, requiring deep tactical understanding and the ability to integrate seamlessly at a moment's notice. Wåhlin, a mainstay in the competitive Swedish curling circuit with Team Wranå, embodied this role perfectly. Her value was in her sharp mind and consistent practice, providing support and analysis that contributed to the team's rhythm. When Sweden faced South Korea in a nail-biting gold medal match that went to an extra end, Wåhlin was part of the unit that secured the winning point, earning her a gold medal. Her career exemplifies the critical, if less visible, teamwork that defines success in the sport.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jennie was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jennie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Jennie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal as the alternate for Team Hasselborg at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
- Has won multiple Swedish Women's Curling Championship medals with different teams.
- Competed in the World Curling Championships as part of the Swedish national team program.
Did You Know?
She studied Law at Stockholm University while competing at an elite curling level.
She initially competed in gymnastics before switching to curling in her teens.
Her sister, Emma Wåhlin, is also an elite curler and they have played on the same team in national competitions.
“You must be ready the moment the coach calls your name.”
