Imagine dedicating your life to a sport, only to have injuries threaten to take it all away. That’s the reality Gabe Landeskog has faced, yet here he stands, captaining Team Sweden at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, determined to turn his journey into Olympic gold. But here’s where it gets controversial: After four knee surgeries, three missed NHL seasons, and a rib injury just before the Games, is Landeskog’s resilience a testament to his unyielding spirit, or does it raise questions about the toll elite sports take on athletes’ bodies?**
Participating in his second Olympics, Landeskog is firmly grounded in the present, focusing on the quarterfinal clash against the Americans. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore the road he’s traveled. At 700+ NHL games, he’s a seasoned veteran, but his path to Milan has been anything but smooth. Just as he was regaining momentum—scoring in seven of his last 10 NHL games—a rib injury sidelined him for the Avalanche’s final 14 matches before the Olympic break. Now, he’s not just playing for himself; he’s playing to repay the faith Team Sweden has placed in him.
His impact was evident in Sweden’s 5-1 victory over Latvia, where his second goal of the tournament gave his team a 2-0 lead early in the first period. Yet, Landeskog’s contributions go beyond the scoreboard. Since his international debut at the 2011 World Junior Championships—cut short by a high ankle sprain—he’s been a leader both on and off the ice. Named alternate captain at just 18, his legacy is as much about his
