STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish cross-country ski great Nils “Mora-Nisse” Karlsson has died at 94.
Karlsson won the traditional Vasaloppet race nine times and captured the gold medal in the 50-kilometer race at the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics.
Vasaloppet organizers said in a statement that Karlsson died early Saturday, surrounded by family.
Karlsson is one of only three people to have won the Vasaloppet at least three times in a row since the race started in 1922. Karlsson had 17 individual competition wins in Swedish national championships and won a bronze medal in the 50-kilometer race at the 1950 Nordic World Ski Championship.