Cross-country skiing: winner of the Vasaloppet at the age of 18
On Sunday, Alvar Myhlback won the Vasaloppet at the tender age of nineteen. Never before has the race had such a young winner.
In 2023, at just 16 years of age, he had already made his mark by finishing eighth in this prestigious race.
On 7 February 2025, the Swede demonstrated his speed by winning theOrlen Sprint in Bedřichov, Czech Republic. He won against fierce competition, finishing the race 0.5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
In February 2024, he won the gold medal at the world junior championships in Planica, winning the 10km classic ahead of the likes of Switzerland’s Isai Naeff and Norway’s Mons Melbye.
He also won theAlliansloppet 2023 and the Tanumsloppet 2022.
In April 2024, he expressed his ambition to take part in the world cross-country skiing championships in Trondheim, demonstrating his desire to establish himself among the world’s elite. But he wasn’t selected, no doubt paying the price for his decision not to devote himself exclusively to the special cross-country and also take the start of long-distance races. “Alvar, now that you’ve won the Vasaloppet, come back! We need you,” said Johan Olsson, consultant for Viaplay, who is currently in Norway.
At the end of January, Alvar Myhlback was not selected for the Junior and U23 World Championships in Schilpario (Italy). The decision sparked debate in Sweden, with some believing it was due to his non-participation in a qualifying competition organised in Bergeforsen (Sweden). ” I’m sad that I won’t be able to be at the Worlds. I don’t like the way it works,” he said on SVT Sport. The Ski Classics circuit is different and allows you to really be who you are. Things evolve and the system can’t have been the same for a hundred years. This decision is really stupid.
Read also
