On the evening of Friday, March 4, 2022, His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden accompanied by their eldest son, HRH Prince Alexander of Sweden, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Vasaloppet at the Mora Kyrka.

Established in 1922, the modern Vasaloppet, as we know today, is the largest cross-country ski race in the world. According to the official website for the Vasaloppet the race actually began much earlier than that:

“The first Vasalopp was carried out as early as 1521 by Gustav Eriksson. During his flight from the Danish king he stopped in Sälen and returned to Mora to lead the uprising against the occupation forces. Gustav Eriksson eventually united the realm and became Sweden’s first king, better known under the name Gustav Vasa. In other words, Sälen is not only the starting point for the world’s largest exercise race; it is also the starting point for the history of our whole country.”