Hanna Öberg needed two extra shots in the first two shootings and was able to hand over to Sebastian Samuelsson in third place, close behind Italy and Austria.
Samuelsson did not have the same fluency as Öberg in shooting.
In lying he needed all three extra shots and in standing one was required.
So after half the race, Sweden was fifth, just over half a minute behind the lead.
But Hanna Öberg took over and went extremely strong in the track where she made up time and moved up to fourth place - and followed it up with flawless horizontal shooting.
In the standing she had the chance to make up even more, but then the distance was extended with two misses and extra shots.
The gold favorite Norway, with Marte Olsbu Röiseland and the sovereign Johannes Thingnes Bö, looked to lose the gold.
In the last horizontal shooting, Thingnes Bö shot four misses and was forced into a penalty round.
Samuelsson was not close enough to overtake and remained fourth after an extra shot.
But Johannes Thingnes Bö showed class and put all five for the gold in the last standing.
At the same time, Italy needed two penalty rounds, which opened up for Samuelsson.
But Samuelsson shot four blocks and he too was forced into a penalty round.
Behind Norway, Austria took silver and Italy bronze.
Sweden finished fourth.
- It's a miscalculation, I think, says SVT's expert Björn Ferry.