Swedish skip Niklas Edin may have executed what's being called the greatest curling shot of all-time on Wednesday at the World Men's Curling Championship in Ottawa.
Trailing Norway by two points in the 10th end, the Swedes were down to their last shot facing a dire situation to tie the game and send it to an extra end.
Norway's shot stone was buried behind two guards and corner frozen on Sweden's rock, just biting the eight-foot. There was simply no way a typical draw, hit or tap would give Team Edin the two points they needed to force an extra.
The only answer was creativity.
The 37-year-old put a significant amount of spin on his in-turn release, which slowed down the rock and gave it much more curl - the only way to get to Norway's shot stone and bump it far enough to score two.
Edin's shooter almost rolled too far, but it stopped just in time to give his side the deuce after a measure.
The shot was called. The shot was made. And it left just about everybody with their jaws on the floor.
"That's insane," said Russ Howard after the shot. "That's the best shot I've ever seen in my life!"
Team Edin, who are now 6-1 after losing in an extra end, are looking to win their fifth straight world title this week, which would be the seventh of Edin's career.
Let's take a closer look at the reaction from the curling world.
ALL HAIL THE GREATEST OF KING EDIN
— TSN Curling (@TSNCurling) April 5, 2023
"That's the best shot I've ever seen in my life!" - Russ Howard #WMCC2023 pic.twitter.com/Tq5R7foTzi
ABSOLUTELY UNREAL 🤯🤯🤯 What a shot to witness live for all those who braved the storm to come out! https://t.co/KGFRJaCIdD
— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) April 5, 2023
"Det värsta man sett” 🥌
— SVT Sport (@SVTSport) April 5, 2023
Två poängs underläge och ett nästintill omöjligt läge. Då stod Niklas Edin för en ”jättespin” som chockade alla 🥌🇸🇪
Sverige förlorade senare skiljeomgången 🥌 pic.twitter.com/ddYwivVBx9
https://t.co/vhVsLfRHTK pic.twitter.com/qeFjhF3Rez
— Ryan Fry (@ryanfry79) April 5, 2023
Best shot ever..shocked..not possible!! https://t.co/0zaV1nuMTF
— Randy Ferbey (@retiredcurler) April 5, 2023
Now that @NiklasEdin has showed that anything is possible. Here is the next in its evolution - I’m sure is already being practiced - Nose hit run backs with normal hit weight that spins the shooter off. Can be used defensively. 👊🏼
— Ryan Fry (@ryanfry79) April 5, 2023
That was insanity! @TeamNiklasEdin craziest shot I’ve ever seen made in the history of curling!
— Mike McEwen (@MikeMcEwen80) April 5, 2023
I’m shaking hands for sure on this. No chance right? Guess there is if your @TeamNiklasEdin https://t.co/ndsPeQZMsr
— Jamie Koe (@JKnwt) April 5, 2023
I have never made anything like it, I have never seen anything like it ... He saw it, he called it, he just set a new precedence in Curling that I'm not sure anyone else will ever achieve ... Unreal shot. #GOAT #curling #sweden https://t.co/Dbjd1Xcpsk
— Jay Merchant 🇦🇺 🇨🇦 (@MerchantJW) April 5, 2023
Greatest curling shot in history? https://t.co/czMl5fachg
— Terry Jones (@byterryjones) April 5, 2023
Called and made. I’m stunned. I’ve never heard Russ happier to see a shot. They/we were all non believers until contact. https://t.co/pQFDa24xHJ
— suss-- 🥌 (@suss2hyphens) April 5, 2023
Best shot ever... Unreal.#curling https://t.co/A4CGFpePg5
— Brian Chick (@leftbutton) April 5, 2023
Video analysis shows that Edin put 2.3 rotations per second on the stone
— Palmetto Curling Club 🥌 (@palmettocurling) April 5, 2023
From the time it left his hand until it hit the red stone, was 23.75s
So it rotated over 54 times https://t.co/VQZTeHis23
Niklas Edin just made the greatest shot I have ever seen in a curling game. Ever. #WMCC2023
— Tyler George (@tgeorge1323) April 5, 2023
🤯 I have never seen a better curling shot
— Lisa Weagle (@lweagle19) April 5, 2023
If I’m ever in a coma show me this to wake me up https://t.co/uoCvDP8Tki
— John Cullen (@cullenoncurling) April 5, 2023
I think the coolest part of the Edin shot is most every other “best shot of all-time!” is something that, while difficult, gets executed in a curling club every day. It’s the circumstances that make the shot special (Hackner, JJ, Sandra, etc.). This one can only be made by so few
— John Cullen (@cullenoncurling) April 5, 2023
Practice and have fun while doing it! https://t.co/4lepRQOGkX
— Team Niklas Edin (@TeamNiklasEdin) April 5, 2023
That is the best curling shot I’ve ever seen from @NiklasEdin
— 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 (@GregSmithNL) April 5, 2023
@NiklasEdin this is the best shot I’ve ever seen in my life. Easily. WOW 😮 https://t.co/Qo0Pe6YyGk
— Félix Asselin (@fasselin94) April 5, 2023
Team Edin attempted a similar shot earlier this season with Oskar Eriksson throwing the rock.
I'm out on the ice playing Checkers while @Oggelit and the boys are playing Chess. This is brilliant and for damn sure practiced! Nasty. @TeamNiklasEdin https://t.co/LZ27h0KmN0
— Colin Hodgson ∞🏳️🌈🟠 (@C_hodgy) November 8, 2022



