48 new Vasaloppet Veterans in 2026 – 1,343 in total

Vasaloppet’s Winter Week features several 90-kilometre races: Öppet Spår Sunday, Öppet Spår Monday 90, Nattvasan 90, Vasaloppet and Hemmavasan Skidor 90. However, only one race per year can count towards veteran status. During Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2026, 339 veterans took part, 280 of whom skied 90 kilometres. The most popular race among these veterans was Vasaloppet itself, with 155 participants.

This year, 48 people became veterans: 46 men and two women. The total number of people to have achieved Vasaloppet veteran status now stands at 1,343, comprising 1,319 men and 24 women. The first was Stig Bölling, Ludvika FFI, who completed his 30th race in 1967 (although the Veteran Club itself was not founded until 1987).

“Vasaloppet’s veterans are some of our best ambassadors. Returning year after year to ski 90 kilometres, and doing so for 30 years and beyond, is a testament to both endurance and determination, not to mention a love of Vasaloppet. Congratulations to this year’s 48 new Vasaloppet veterans, and a very warm welcome to the Veteran Club! With a special welcome to our two new female veterans, Eva Järkenstedt and Silvana Friedrich. Women still make up a small number of our veterans, but their numbers are growing, and they are important role models, inspiring more women to take to the trails,” says Johan Eriksson, CEO of Vasaloppet.

Among the women, Anne-Marie Richardsson, OK Landehof, and Margareta Östensson-Lindblom, Sälens IF, have completed the most races, with 42 each. Margareta completed her 42nd race this year; on the top-ten list of women below, she is one of eight to participate this year.

Among the men, Gösta Lönnelid, IFK Mora SK, has completed the most races. He finished his 61st race in 2024. In the past two years, however, Gösta has opted to take part in Vasaloppet 10, which starts in Eldris.

Looking at the male veterans with the most finishes who also took part this year, Håkan Mossberg of Kopparbergs IF completed his 57th 90-kilometre race in 2026. Jörgen Wallin, Säters IF, and Gunnar Olsson, Stora Tuna IK SK, both completed their 56th race, while Vidar Löfving, Tibro OK, completed his 55th. When 88-year-old Gunnar Olsson (born in 1938) took part in Öppet Spår Monday 90 this winter, he became the oldest veteran ever to ski the full 90 kilometres.

Four veterans were celebrated with cake this winter after completing their 50th race. The new “50-racers,” as they are known, were Johan Carlsson of Trollhättans SOK, Per Lindgren and Arvo Teppola of IKHP Huskvarna Idrottsklubb, and Dan Johansson of Lysekil SLF. There are now 69 veterans who have completed 50 races or more.

The fastest veteran in Vasaloppet 2026 was Anders Sörensson, Munkedals Skid & Cykelklubb, with a time of 4:38:50. He finished in 186th place, just 29 seconds ahead of the second-fastest veteran, Peo Svahn, Boxholm-Ekeby SK.

One elite skier worth mentioning is well on his way to becoming a veteran: the well-known Czech skier Stanislav Rezác. This year, he completed his 27th race and finished 57th at the age of 52 (born in 1973). His best result is second place, and he has finished third five times and achieved a total of 15 top-ten finishes in Vasaloppet. In other words, he could qualify as a veteran in 2029.

FACTS/ Vasaloppet veterans
To call yourself a veteran you must complete Vasaloppet and/or Öppet Spår according to Vasaloppet’s rules for 30 years (only one race per year counts).  Hemmavasan Skidor 90 also counts, as does Nattvasan 90 since 2020. Veterans can join Vasaloppet’s Veteran Club, founded in 1987, and wear a personalized orange number bib in all races. In Vasaloppet, veterans start in their own row in start group 5 (closest to the wall).

Top 10 most races, men
1. Gösta Lönnelid, IFK Mora SK – 61 races
2. Bengt Eriksson, Sälens IF – 60 races
2. Börje Karlsson, Landsbro IF Skidor – 60 races
4. Håkan Mossberg, Kopparbergs IF – 57 races
5. Jörgen Wallin, Säters IF – 56 races
5. Gunnar Olsson, Stora Tuna IK SK – 56 races
7. Gunnar Sold, IK Jarl Rättvik – 55 races
7. Torsten Löfgren, IK Jarl Rättvik – 55 races
7. Erik Berglund, IFK Mora SK – 55 races
7. Vidar Löfving, Tibro OK – 55 races

Top 10 most races, women
1. Anne-Marie Richardsson, OK Landehof – 42 races
1. Margareta Östensson-Lindblom, Sälens IF – 42 races
3. Eivor Johansson, Navåsens FK – 41 races
3. Carina Johansson, Tumba-Mälarhöjden OK – 41 races
5. Kristin Back-Frisk, Vänersborgs SK – 39 races
6. Karin Johannesson, Filipstads SF – 37 races
7. Carina Hammarstrand, FK Snapphanarna – 36 races
7. Helen Östensson, Sälens IF – 36 races
9. Berit Brandt, Vansbro AIK SK – 35 races
9. Lubov Pospeshina, IFK Skövde SK – 35 races

Here are all the new veterans after Vasaloppet’s Winter Week 2026 – county by county

Dalarna
Björn Eriksson Norberg, Borlänge
Peter Bergkvist, Källbottens IK
Åke Bolander, Leksand
Ola Andersson, Domnarvets GOIF
Mikael Lindberg, Svärdsjö
Jonas Högberg, Stora Tuna IK SK

Gävleborg
Dag Tedenby, Gävle SK

Halland
Eva Järkenstedt, Team Cobra

Jämtland
Mats Johansson, Frösön
Ola Wallin, Svegs IK

Kalmar
Joakim Åleheim, Nybro Skidklubb

Kronoberg
Per Åkesson, Växjö AIS
Johan Håkansson, Växjö AIS

Norrbotten
Anders Moritz, Nattavaaraby SK

Skåne
Jonas Prellner, Björnstorps IF
Ronny Tocaj, IF Ski Team Skåne

Stockholm
Anders Thunberg, IFK Stockholm
Thomas Lindberg, Nacka Värmdö SK
Anders Carlinger, Skogsluffarnas OK
Jonas Thorén, Molkoms SK
Pär Schöldström, Sollentuna
Peter Sundén, Huddinge SK LF
Tommy Kjellsson, Team Skavsåret IF
Patrik Attemark, Saltsjöbadens IF

Södermanland
Glenn Karlsson, Broby GoIF
Royne Myrman, Nävekvarns GOIF

Uppsala
Kenneth Petersson, AXA SC
Peter Jäderström, Uppsala Vasaloppsklubb

Värmland
Fredrik Kristiansson, Töcksfors IF
Tomas Brunzell, Grava SK

Västerbotten
Martin Lundberg, Fredrika IK

Västernorrland
Björn Byström, Vårby IK

Västra Götaland
Peter Lund, OK Skogshjortarna
Lars Johansson, Fältjägarna IF
Brynolf Gustafsson, IK Stern
Jens Reckman, IK Stern
Tommy Abrahamsson, Borås SK
Henrik Ekdahl, Lidköpings VSK
Paul Olsson, Trollhättans SOK
Roger Rappéll, Borås GK
Sören Pettersson, SK Granan
Mikael Björndal, AXA SC
Torbjörn Johansson, Filipstads SF
Göran Andersson, Trafikverkets Fritidsförening Göteborg

Östergötland
Mika Ojala, Svärtinge

From outside Sweden
Magnus Eiríksson, Iceland
Stefan Simonen, Finland
Silvana Friedrich, Germany

Placings and times of the five fastest veterans in Vasaloppet 2026
186. Anders Sörensson, Munkedals Skid & Cykelklubb, 4.38.50
  (35 races, age 54, best finish: 76th)
189. Peo Svahn, Boxholm-Ekeby SK, 4.39.19
  (31 races, age 59, best finish: 15th)
273. Ronnie Löf, Högbo GIF, 4.48.34
  (32 races, age 55, best finish: 34th)
337. Thommy Larsson, TeamB3 IF, 4.54.52
  (35 races, age 61, best finish: 6th)
354. Fredrik Sätter, Trillevallens SK, 4.55.44
  (33 races, age 54, best finish: 23rd)

Visit the Vasaloppet Veteran Club page (in Swedish) >