Sweden

Exciting sporting facts

The Vasa Race
In the year 1521 Gustav Eriksson Vasa, who was later to become King Gustav I. of Sweden, had to flee the Danish rulers after organising a peasant rebellion. He escaped on skis to the town of Mora in the Dalarna region, but the people there turned him away. However, when they learnt that the Danish had previously murdered Gustav's father and two other Swedish patriots, they decided to help him and sent two people after him on skis. Gustav and the men of Dalarna went on to defeat the Danish King Kristian II. Gustav then became King of Sweden. Since 1922 the annual "Vasa Race" has been held in commemoration of these events. The 90 kilometre long race between the towns of Salen and Mora is the oldest cross-country skiing competition in the world.

Badminton as a girls' sport
Christine of Sweden, who ascended the throne in 1632 at the age of 6, was an enthusiastic badminton player. In England badminton was seen as a "love oracle". Girls would sing: "Shuttlecock, when shall I wear the bride's frock? One, two three...?"

Nordic Ski Games
In February 1901, the "Nordic Ski Games" were held for the very first time in Sweden. Outdoor disciplines were skiing, speed skating, figure skating, snowshoe walking, luge, curling and riding while indoor disciplines were gymnastics, fencing and dancing. The Nordic Ski Games became a competitor to the Olympics, which were only ever held in summer. Special "Winter Olympics" were only introduced in 1924.

Unicycle-skipping
On 31st August 2000, Peter Rosendahl from Sweden set up a new record for skipping with a rope while sitting on a unicycle. He managed 169 skips in one minute.

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