There is a great deal of heart and soul involved in being a sports leader in a sport you are passionate about. The love of curling has united this year’s recipients of the Karlstad Grand Prix 2026 in more ways than one. The award goes to the married couple Alison Kreviazuk and Fredrik Lindberg, Karlstad Curling Club and the Swedish Curling Federation, for their contributions to Swedish curling.
Fredrik Lindberg grew up in Hede and moved to Karlstad to play with Team Niklas Edin, where he won, among other achievements, European Championship gold, World Championship gold, and Olympic bronze. After his playing career, Fredrik remained in Karlstad and now works as a sports director and national team coach. During the past season, he has achieved major success with two European Championship gold medals, one World Championship bronze, one World Championship gold, and, not least, Olympic gold with Team Hasselborg.
Alison was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and had a successful playing career, including a World Championship silver medal, before moving to Sweden to build a life together with Fredrik in Karlstad. As national team coach for mixed doubles and wheelchair curling, Alison has achieved significant success. During the Olympics and Paralympics in Cortina, the mixed doubles team Wranå won gold, and the wheelchair team took bronze.
The jury’s statement
"Both Fredrik and Alison, through their leadership, have the ability to listen to their athletes and give them significant responsibility. They also keep track of every detail and leave nothing to chance. Through their leadership, they create the conditions for a strong elite sports environment, and we are proud and pleased that they are active in Karlstad."
“Both are highly deserving award recipients,” says Anne-Christine Larsson Ljung, University Director at Karlstad University. “They have successfully combined an elite focus with inclusive leadership. We are proud to celebrate their achievements.”
“Fredrik and Alison are worthy recipients of the Karlstad Grand Prix Award 2026,” says Robert Halvarsson, Chair of the Culture and Leisure Committee in Karlstad Municipality. Through their leadership and strong ambassadorship, they contribute to the development of curling here in Karlstad, in Sweden, and internationally. We are proud of their efforts and cheer them on in their continued work to inspire more people and help the sport continue to grow,” says Robert Halvarsson.
“Receiving this award is an honor, but receiving it together with one’s partner feels extra special,” say Alison Kreviazuk and Fredrik Lindberg. “We work daily with fantastic athletes, the very best of the best, but nothing would have been possible without the support from our federation and all the organizations that support Swedish sports. They have all played a role in this, and we are proud and grateful to be able to do what we do!”
The Karlstad Grand Prix Award sports leadership scholarship amounts to SEK 30,000 and was established to reward outstanding leadership achievements within Swedish sports. The heart-shaped award, symbolizing the most important quality of a sports leader, is made of wood to represent the connection to Karlstad and Värmland, where there is world-leading expertise in the paper, wood, and pulp industry, not least through research at Karlstad University. 2026 marks the eighteenth year that the heart-shaped scholarship is awarded.
The jury for the Karlstad Grand Prix Award is chaired by Kristin Idskog, Director of Culture and Leisure in Karlstad Municipality. Other jury members for 2026 are Anne-Christine Larsson Ljung, University Director at Karlstad University; Lars Andersson, RF-SISU Värmland; and Thomas Sundenhammar, District Sports Director at RF-SISU Värmland.
Previous recipients
- Athletics coach Ulf Karlsson, 2008
- Färjestad BK hockey coaches Per-Erik Johnsson and Tommy Samuelsson, 2009
- Marie Henriksson, Karlstad Curling Club, 2010
- Diver and coach Ulrika Knape, 2011
- Floorball player and leader Jan-Erik Vaara, 2012
- Stefan Olsson, Sports Director, Swedish Athletics, 2013
- Carlstad Crusaders, 2014
- Hellton women’s team, 2015
- Lennart Larsson, Karlstad Karate Association, 2016
- Anna Dahlberg-Söderström and Fredrik Eliasson, Karlstad Golf Club, 2017
- Annika Dahlman (Grava SK) and sports profile Stefan Holm, 2018
- Johan Pennerborn, Färjestad BK, 2019
- Bo “Kulon” Lennartsson, Färjestad BK, 2021 (posthumously)
- Johan Engberg, IF Göta, 2022
- Maria Busk Madland, goalkeeper coach at Degerfors IF and university lecturer in sports science at Karlstad University, 2023
- Sven-Göran “Svennis” Eriksson, international football coach, 2024
- Anders Möller, athletics coach and leader, 2025
