{"id":2090,"date":"2026-02-17T09:40:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T08:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vasaloppet.se\/en\/?page_id=2090"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:59:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T09:59:16","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vasaloppet.se\/en\/about-us\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Our story begins in the winter of 1520\u20131521.<\/h2>\n\n

More than two million participants have crossed the finish line in one of Vasaloppet\u2019s various races since it began in 1922. But in truth, the event was born 400 years earlier, with just a single person. Vasaloppet follows the very route along which a certain Gustav Vasa fled from the Danish king\u2019s soldiers.<\/strong>

During his flight from the Danish king in 1521 Gustav Eriksson stopped in S\u00e4len and returned to Mora to lead the uprising against the occupation forces. Gustav Eriksson eventually united the realm and became Sweden\u2019s first king, better known under the name Gustav Vasa. In other words, S\u00e4len is not only the starting point for one of the world\u2019s largest exercise race; it is also the starting point for the history of our whole country.<\/p>\n\n

Here you can read more about the history of Vasaloppet, as well as exciting facts, records, lists and trivia. We see these pages as the start of \u201dVasaloppet\u2019s digital museum\u201d. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Pre-history<\/span><\/a><\/div>
The first Vasaloppet<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Start and finish<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Winners<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Mora-Nisse<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Kranskulla and Kransmas<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Blueberry soup<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Vasaloppet's Summer Week<\/span><\/a><\/div>
Vasaloppet's development<\/span><\/a><\/div>
100 years<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t