Lövgren and Lindberg Win

Johan Lövgren completely crushed the competition in the world's longest ski race, winning the 220-kilometer-long event in Jokkmokk by almost ten minutes. Sofia Lindberg also gave everything to win Nordenskiöldsloppet.

"This was third time lucky. This is the biggest victory I've ever had," said the emotional skier from Robertsfors after winning the women's race. Sofia put on an impressive performance, winning the women’s category by almost an hour. She also kept up with the men, finishing ninth overall, including all male competitors.

"I decided to stay near the front and follow strong skiers," she said. "It has been an amazing day, but also so tough. I'm completely drained of energy."

This year’s Nordenskiöldsloppet was a real challenge for both skiers and organizers. The snow literally melted off the tracks in the warm temperatures. Sofia Lindberg’s winning time for the 220 km race was just over 13 hours.

"At times, the tracks were good, but they were also soft, wet, and even covered in moss in some places. I’ve never skied in so much water before," said Sofia.

Sofia Lindberg has proven that it is possible to become an elite skier without attending a ski academy, instead focusing on a civilian career. At 33 years old, she works as a biomedical analyst at Umeå Hospital.

Lövgren Takes His Second Victory

"I felt very strong today," said Johan Lövgren immediately after crossing the finish line, looking surprisingly fresh. Early in the race, he stayed near the front of the lead pack, which gradually thinned out as the hours and kilometers passed. By the halfway point in Njavve, after 110 km, only Klas Nilsson from Skellefteå could keep up with his pace.

"I made a small surge somewhere between 130-140 km. That’s when Klas dropped off," Lövgren explained. The last 70 km, Johan Lövgren had to push through the grueling conditions alone, finishing after nearly 12 hours of skiing.

"These really long races seem to suit me well," said the 33-year-old skier from Vännäs, who works as a carpenter in his everyday life. This was Johan Lövgren’s second victory in the Nordenskiöldsloppet; his first win came in 2022.

"That was a completely different race. This time, it was really tough with the warm weather."

The runner-up, Klas Nilsson from Skellefteå, was highly impressed by Lövgren’s performance.

"He was so incredibly strong, and I completely ran out of energy. I just couldn’t keep up when he increased the pace," said Klas Nilsson, who couldn’t hide his disappointment. He had come to Jokkmokk to win.

The Nordenskiöldsloppet started at dawn, at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. By the time the winner crossed the finish line, many of the recreational skiers still had a long way to go. The last participants were expected to finish on Sunday morning after nearly 30 hours of skiing.

"This race is brutal—it’s long, tough, wet, and there were even branches sticking out when the snow melted away. But it’s fantastic, a real adventure," said third-place finisher Öivind Moen Fjeld.