Pressmeddelande -
Olympic gold medallists in Vasaloppet
Did you know that at least 23 Olympic gold medallists from other sports have skied the iconic 90 km in Vasaloppet or Öppet Spår?
John Albrechtson (Sweden) – Sailing, Tempest class, 1976 Montreal
Chris Brasher (Great Britain) – Athletics, 3000 metre steeplechase, 1956 Melbourne
Andreas Dackell (Sweden) – Ice Hockey, 1994 Lillehammer
Sigvard Ericsson (Sweden) – Speed Skating, 10,000 metre, 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo
Peppe Femling (Sweden) – Biathlon, 4x7.5 km, 2018 PyeongChang
Michael Greis (Germany) – Biathlon, 20 km, 15 km, 4x7.5 km, 2006 Turin
Tomas Gustafson (Sweden) – Speed Skating, 5000 metre 1984 Sarajevo, 5000 metre & 10,000 metre 1988 Calgary
Alf Hansen (Norway) – Rowing, Double Sculls, 1976 Montreal
Stefan Holm (Sweden) – Athletics, High Jump, 2004 Athens
Johnny Höglin (Sweden) – Speed Skating, 10,000 metre, 1968 Grenoble
Darius Kasparaitis (Lithuania/Russia) – Ice Hockey, Unified Team, 1992 Albertville
John Ljunggren (Sweden) – Athletics, 50 km Race Walk, 1948 London
Franck Piccard (France) – Alpine Skiing, Super-G, 1988 Calgary
Anja Pärson (Sweden) – Alpine Skiing, Slalom, 2006 Turin
Bernhard Russi (Switzerland) – Alpine Skiing, Downhill, 1972 Sapporo
Tore Sjöstrand (Sweden) – Athletics, 3000 metre steeplechase, 1948 London
Ingemar Stenmark (Sweden) – Alpine Skiing, Slalom & Giant Slalom, 1980 Lake Placid
Ulf Sundelin (Sweden) – Sailing 5.5-metre class, 1968 Mexico
Georg Thoma (Germany) – Nordic Combined, 1960 Squaw Valley
William Thoresson (Sweden) – Gymnastics Floor Exercise, 1952 Helsinki
Olaf Tufte (Norway) – Rowing, Single Sculls, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing
Kati Wilhelm (Germany) – Biathlon, 7.5 km sprint & 4x7.5 km relay, 2002 Salt Lake City, 10 km pursuit, 2006 Turin
Stefan Örnskog (Sweden) – Ice Hockey, 1994 Lillehammer
Naturally, many more Olympic participants and medallists have taken part in Vasaloppet throughout history. The list above does not include former elite cross-country skiers.
Olympic gold medallists who also WON Vasaloppet
Ten male and four female cross-country skiers have won both Vasaloppet and an Olympic gold in cross-country skiing. These athletes are Sven Utterström, Per Erik Hedlund, Nils Karlsson, Sixten Jernberg, Janne Stefansson, Assar Rönnlund, Ole Ellefsæter, Sven-Åke Lundbäck, Jan Ottosson, Anders Aukland, Svetlana Nagejkina, Vibeke Skofterud, Justyna Kowalczyk, and Stina Nilsson. Only Per Erik Hedlund in 1928 and Sixten Jernberg in 1960 managed to win Vasaloppet and an Olympic gold in the same year.
IOC patronage
In 1987, Vasaloppet received the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, as one of only five competitions worldwide included that year in the IOC’s “Sports for All” program. (See photo below.)
Upcoming events in the Vasaloppet Arena:
Vasaloppet's Winter Week 2026 and the 102nd Vasaloppet – cross country skiing
>>> More than 55,000 participants registered so far. >>>
Friday, February 20, Vasaloppet 30, start Oxberg, 30 km
Saturday, February 21, Tjejvasan, start Oxberg, 30 km
Sunday, February 22, Öppet Spår Sunday, FULLY BOOKED, start Sälen, 90 km
Sunday, February 22, Ungdomsvasan, start Eldris, 9 km, start Hökberg, 19 km
Monday, February 23, Öppet Spår Monday 90, freestyle, start Sälen, 90 km
Monday, February 23, Öppet Spår Monday 45, freestyle, start Oxberg, 45 km
Monday, February 23, Öppet Spår Monday 30, freestyle, start Oxberg, 30 km
Tuesday, February 24, Vasaloppet 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Friday, February 27, Stafettvasan, ski relay, five sections, start Sälen, 90 km
Friday, February 27, Nattvasan 30, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg, 30 km
Friday, February 27, Nattvasan 45, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Oxberg, 45 km
Friday, February 27, Nattvasan 90, individually or two-person teams, freestyle, start Sälen, 90 km
Saturday, February 28, Vasaloppet 10, freestyle, start Eldris, 9 km
Sunday, March 1, The 102nd Vasaloppet, start Sälen, 90 km
Vasaloppet's Summer Week 2026 – biking and running
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan 30, start Oxberg, 32 km
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan Öppet Spår, start Sälen, 95 km
Friday, August 7, Cykelvasan 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Saturday, August 8, Cykelvasan 90, start Sälen, 95 km
Friday, August 14, Funkisvasan, start Mora, 4 km
Friday, August 14, Trailvasan 10, start Mora, 10 km
Saturday, August 15, Ultravasan 90, start Sälen, 92 km
Saturday, August 15, Vasastafetten, running relay, ten legs, start Sälen, 92 km
Saturday, August 15, Ultravasan 45, start Oxberg, 45 km
Saturday, August 15, Trailvasan 30, start Oxberg, 30 km
Vasaloppstrippeln – ski, bike and run, all in one year
Vasaloppstrippeln is a challenge where you complete three races – skiing, cycling and running – during one and the same calendar year. Choose between 30, 45 or 90 kilometres.
Like Vasaloppet on Facebook and follow Vasaloppet on Instagram!
High-resolution photos from Vasaloppet
https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/vasaloppet/latest_media
Text and photos may be freely published.
For more information
Camilla Sandy Swarén. Press Manager Vasaloppet
+46 (0)70-384 95 00
camilla.sandy@vasaloppet.se
More on Vasaloppet
www.vasaloppet.se
Press room: mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/vasaloppet
Facebook: facebook.com/vasaloppetofficial
Instagram: @vasaloppet
Ämnen
Regioner
Vasaloppet is the world's biggest cross-country ski race. Vasaloppet's Winter Week with its cross-country skiing and Summer Week with mountain biking and running attract a total of almost 100,000 registered participants every year. Since the beginning in 1922 over 1.9 million participants have passed the finish line portal in Mora. Vasaloppet is a non-profit making organization owned by IFK Mora and Sälens IF. An engine for public health and sports club activities, in forefathers' tracks for future victories!
