Who won the first Vasaloppet cross-country ski race in 1922?

Ernst Alm won the first Vasaloppet cross-country ski race in 1922.

The inaugural Vasaloppet covered approximately 90 kilometres from Sälen to Mora in Sweden. Alm, representing Norsjö, completed the course in 7 hours, 32 minutes and 49 seconds. At 22, he remains the youngest winner in the race’s history.

Vasaloppet was inspired by the legendary 16th-century journey of Gustav Eriksson Vasa, later King Gustav I of Sweden. The modern race was created to commemorate that story and to celebrate Sweden’s cross-country skiing tradition.

The event became one of the world’s best-known long-distance ski races. It is held in early March and forms part of the Ski Classics series. Alm’s winning time is not comparable with modern records because the course, equipment and track preparation have changed substantially.