Agnes_Knochenhauer

Agnes Knochenhauer

Agnes Knochenhauer

Swedish curler


Agnes Ellinor Knochenhauer (born 5 May 1989) is a Swedish curler[1] who competed at 5 World Curling Championships and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi[2] and 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, winning a silver and a gold medal respectively.

Quick Facts Born, Team ...

Career

Junior career

In 2009, Knochenhauer played at the 2009 World Junior Curling Championships as third for the Anna Hasselborg rink. Sweden finished with a 4–5 record and a 6th-place finish. At the 2010 World Junior Curling Championships, Sweden upset the Canadian rink skipped by Rachel Homan in the final by a score of 8–3.

At the 2013 Winter Universiade, Knochenhauer and her team had a 5th-place finish.

Women's career

Knochenhauer has graduated from the junior level and has won three tour events in her career, the 2011 Glynhill Ladies International, the 2016 Oakville OCT Fall Classic, and the 2016 Stockholm Ladies Curling Cup.[3]

In 2013, Knochenhauer was the alternate for the Margaretha Sigfridsson rink at the 2013 World Women's Curling Championship. Sweden made it all the way to the final, where they lost 6–5 to Scotland's Eve Muirhead. The Swedish team finished 5th at the 2014 European Curling Championships.

In February 2018, her team of Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, and Sofia Mabergs won the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, defeating Kim Eun-jung in the final. The next month, the rink made it to the final of the 2018 Ford World Women's Curling Championship, but they lost in an extra end to Canada's Jennifer Jones.

Knochenhauer won her first Grand Slam in the inaugural women's Elite 10 in 2018, going undefeated through the tournament and defeating Silvana Tirinzoni in the final.[4] At the 2018 Masters, the Hasselborg rink won their second straight slam, defeating Rachel Homan in the final. The team lost the world final once again at the 2019 World Women's Curling Championship, this time to Silvana Tirinzoni.

Team Hasselborg began the 2019–20 season at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard, where they defeated Anna Sidorova in the final. They missed the playoffs at the 2019 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic after going 2–2 in the round robin. They defended their title at the 2019 European Curling Championships. Down 4–3 in the tenth end of the final to Scotland's Eve Muirhead, Hasselborg made a runback on her final stone to score two and win. In Grand Slam play, Team Hasselborg were the most dominant team on the women's side, winning them the 2019–20 Pinty's Cup. They lost in the semifinal of the Masters to Tracy Fleury before winning the next three Slams, the Tour Challenge, National and the Canadian Open. The team was set to represent Sweden at the 2020 World Women's Curling Championship before the event got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] The Canadian Open would be their last event of the season as both the Players' Championship and the Champions Cup Grand Slam events were also cancelled due to the pandemic.[7] Also during the season, Knochenhauer paired up with Rasmus Wranå for the Swedish Mixed Doubles Curling Championship which they won. They were going to compete at the 2020 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, but that event was also cancelled.[8][9]

The Hasselborg rink won the first event of the 2020–21 season, defeating Raphaela Keiser in the final of the 2020 Women's Masters Basel.[10] Next, they played Team Wranå in the Sweden National Challenge in December 2020, where they lost 17–12.[11] A "curling bubble" was set up in Calgary, Canada in the spring, which hosted several events, including the 2021 World Women's Curling Championship and two slams.[12] Team Hasselborg competed in both the 2021 Champions Cup and the 2021 Players' Championship, finishing 0–4 at the Champions Cup and reaching the semifinals of the Players'. The following week, the team represented Sweden at the Worlds. They finished third through the round robin with a 10–3 record, qualifying them for the playoffs. After defeating Canada's Kerri Einarson 8–3 in the qualification round, they lost a narrow 8–7 semifinal against the RCF, skipped by Alina Kovaleva. This put them in the bronze medal game, which they lost 9–5 to the Tabitha Peterson rink of the United States.[13] On June 4, 2021, Team Hasselborg was selected as the Olympic Team for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[14]

Team Hasselborg began the 2021–22 season competing in the men's Baden Masters tour event, where they missed the playoffs. At the 2021 Women's Masters Basel, the team made it all the way to the final, where they lost to Denmark's Madeleine Dupont.[15] Next, they played in the 2021 Masters Grand Slam event, where they again missed the playoffs. They were able to rebound at the 2021 National, however, claiming the title with a 9–6 victory over Tracy Fleury in the final game.[16] In November, Team Hasselborg again represented Sweden at the 2021 European Curling Championships where they finished third in the round robin with a 7–2 record. They then defeated Russia's Alina Kovaleva in the semifinal before dropping the final to Scotland's Eve Muirhead, settling for silver.[17] The next event for Team Hasselborg was the 2022 Winter Olympics, where they attempted to defend their gold medal from 2018. The team placed second after the round robin preliminary stage with a 7–2 record. This earned them a semifinal berth where they would face Great Britain's Muirhead rink. In one of the highest-scoring games in curling, Muirhead scored a single point in the extra end to win 12–11, ending Hasselborg's chances of repeating as Olympic gold medallists. They did still earn a medal from the Games, however, as they were able to beat Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni rink 9–7 in the bronze medal game.[18] Next for the Swedish rink was the 2022 World Women's Curling Championship, where they finished fourth in the round robin with a 9–3 record. They then defeated the United States Cory Christensen in the qualification game before dropping the semifinal and bronze medal games to Switzerland and Canada, respectively, placing fourth.[19] Team Hasselborg wrapped up their season at the final two Slams of the season, the 2022 Players' Championship and the 2022 Champions Cup. At the Players', the team began with two straight losses before rattling off six straight victories to claim the event title. With the victory, Team Hasselborg became the first women's team to win a career Grand Slam (winning all four 'majors').[20] At the Champions Cup, they went undefeated up until the semifinal round where they were eliminated by Kerri Einarson.

In their first event of the 2022–23 season, Team Hasselborg won the 2022 Oslo Cup. After a 4–1 round robin record, the team knocked off Isabella Wranå in the semifinal and the newly formed Kaitlyn Lawes rink in the championship game.[21] Next for the team was the European Qualifier best-of-seven series between them and Team Wranå. Team Hasselborg won the series 4–1, becoming the Swedish team for the 2022 European Curling Championships.[22] In their first Slam of the season, the 2022 National, the team missed the playoffs with a 1–3 record, meaning they would not have the chance to repeat as champions for a third year in a row.[23] They were able to qualify at the next Slam, the 2022 Tour Challenge, where they fell in the quarterfinals to Kerri Einarson.[24] Back at home, the team claimed their second event title of the season after going undefeated to win the Sundbyberg Open. They played with three players, with Sara McManus out on maternity leave.[25] At the European Championship, the team's alternate Johanna Heldin stepped in at lead, shifting Mabergs to second and Knochenhauer to third. The team went 5–4 through the round robin, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015.[26] Back on the Slam tour, Team Hasselborg lost 5–2 to Rachel Homan in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Masters.[27] They also lost in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Canadian Open, 8–7 to Satsuki Fujisawa.[28] In February, the team won the Swedish Women's Curling Championship and the Swedish World Qualifier over Team Wranå, qualifying for the World Championship.[29] In their final event before the Worlds, the team lost in the final of the Sun City Cup to Marianne Rørvik.[30] At the 2023 World Women's Curling Championship, which was held in Sandviken, the team finished fifth through the round robin with a 7–5 record, enough to make the playoffs.[31] After defeating Italy in the qualification game, they once again lost both the semifinal and the bronze medal game to Switzerland and Canada to finish fourth.[32] The team finished their season at the 2023 Players' Championship and the 2023 Champions Cup. After missing the playoffs at the Players', the team made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup where they lost 7–6 to Team Homan.[33] Knochenhauer threw third rocks and skipped the team during the Champions Cup, with Hasselborg on maternity leave.[34]

Back together for the 2023–24 season, Team Hasselborg defended their title at the 2023 Oslo Cup, stealing the victory against Marianne Rørvik.[35] They then made a second straight final at the 2023 Women's Masters Basel before falling short to Silvana Tirinzoni.[36] At the best-of-seven European qualifier against Isabella Wranå, the team lost the series 4–2, meaning they would not represent Sweden for the first time since 2015.[37] Back on tour, the team rebounded immediately by winning the 2023 Players Open, downing Team Wranå in the final.[38] At the first Slam of the season, the 2023 Tour Challenge, the team went unbeaten until the semifinals where they were stopped by Jennifer Jones.[39] They also reached the semifinals of the 2023 National before losing to Rachel Homan.[40] After missing the playoffs at the 2023 Western Showdown, the team had back-to-back quarterfinal finishes at the 2023 Masters and the 2024 Canadian Open, losing out to Team Jones on both occasions.[41] Days before the 2024 Swedish Women's Championship, Team Hasselborg was appointed to represent Sweden at the 2024 World Women's Curling Championship as they had accumulated more points than Team Wranå throughout the first part of the season.[42] Still, the team went on to win the Swedish Championship. At the Worlds, Team Hasselborg started with three consecutive losses before turning things around, finishing the round robin in fifth place with a 7–5 record.[43] They then lost to Korea's Gim Eun-ji in the qualification round, eliminating them from medal contention. The Hasselborg rink ended their season at the 2024 Players' Championship where after a 3–2 round robin record they lost in the quarterfinals to Gim.[44]

In 2016 she was inducted into the Swedish Curling Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Knochenhauer is married to Peter Fransson and has two children. She works as a project manager.[45] She lives in Lidingö, a suburb of Stockholm.[46]

Grand Slam record

More information Key ...
More information Event, 2010–11 ...

Former events

More information Event, 2014–15 ...

References

  1. 2018 Ford World Women's Curling Championship Media Guide
  2. "Agnes Knochenhauer". Sochi2014.com. Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  3. "Hasselborg makes GSOC history winning 1st Elite 10 women's title". www.thegrandslamofcurling.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. The Canadian Press (12 March 2020). "World Women's Curling Championship Cancelled". The Sports Network. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  5. "World Women's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Prince George, Canada". World Curling Federation. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  6. "GSOC cancels remaining events of 2019–20 season". Grand Slam of Curling. Grand Slam of Curling. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  7. "World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Curling Championships 2020 cancelled in Kelowna, Canada". World Curling Federation. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  8. Potenteau, Doyle (14 March 2020). "Coronavirus: World mixed doubles, seniors curling championships in Kelowna cancelled". Global News. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  9. "Winners of the Sweden National Challenge!". Facebook. Team Panthera. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. "Women's Worlds added to bubble". Curling Canada. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  11. Jackie Spiegel (9 May 2021). "World Women's Curling Championship 2021: Results, standings, schedule and TV channel". Sporting News. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  12. "SOK tar ut fler idrottare till vinter-OS" (in Swedish). SVT Sport. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  13. "2021 Women's Masters Basel". CurlingZone. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  14. Jonathan Brazeau (7 November 2021). "Hasselborg holds off Fleury to win 6th GSOC women's title at National". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  15. "Scotland win women's Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2021 title". World Curling Federation. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  16. "Sweden women win Olympic bronze medals". World Curling Federation. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  17. "Canada's Einarson wins bronze at world women's curling championship". CTV News Winnipeg. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  18. Jonathan Brazeau (17 April 2022). "Hasselborg makes GSOC history with Players' Championship women's title win". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  19. "2022 Swedish European Qualifier". CurlingZone. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  20. Jonathan Brazeau (7 October 2022). "Carey cools Keiser to stay in the mix at Boost National". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  21. Jonathan Brazeau (22 October 2022). "Wrana upsets top-seed Tirinzoni in HearingLife Tour Challenge quarterfinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  22. "Sundbyberg Open 2022". Nordic Curling Tour. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  23. "Live Blog: Day six at the ECC". World Curling Federation. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  24. Jonathan Brazeau (10 December 2022). "Einarson beats Carey in extra end to reach WFG Masters semifinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  25. Jonathan Brazeau (14 January 2023). "Einarson eliminates Homan in Co-op Canadian Open women's quarterfinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  26. "2023 Sun City Cup". CurlingZone. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  27. "Play-off field complete at LGT World Women's Championship". World Curling Federation. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  28. "Canada win bronze medals at LGT World Women's Curling Championship". World Curling Federation. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  29. Jonathan Brazeau (6 May 2023). "Team Homan oust Team Hasselborg in KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup quarterfinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  30. Jonathan Brazeau (4 May 2023). "Team Hasselborg hang on to beat Team Homan in extra end at Champions Cup". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  31. "2023 Oslo Cup". CurlingZone. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  32. "2023 Women's Masters Basel". World Curling Tour. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  33. "Fourth time's the charm — Wranaa's first European appearance". World Curling Federation. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  34. "Bottcher the new world No. 1 after defeating Koe in Dundas final". TSN. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  35. Jonathan Brazeau (21 October 2023). "Lawes, Jones to meet in HearingLife Tour Challenge women's final". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  36. Jonathan Brazeau (11 November 2023). "Edin, Retornaz to meet in KIOTI National men's final". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  37. Jonathan Brazeau (16 December 2023). "Defending champ Einarson steals spot in WFG Masters semifinals from Gim". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  38. "Lag Edin och lag Hasselborg representerar Sverige vid curling-VM" (in Swedish). Svenska Curlingförbundet. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  39. "Six teams qualify for World Women's play-offs". World Curling Federation. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  40. Jonathan Brazeau (13 April 2024). "Gim, Tirinzoni advance to Princess Auto Players' Championship semifinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  41. "Agnes Knochenhauer". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 5 November 2021.

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