MORA, Sweden -- Two skiers competing in the Vasaloppet
cross-country ski marathon died during the race and a third man
died before the race began.
The two who died during the 56-mile event Sunday were being
examined by pathologists, but all three most likely had heart
attacks, race doctor Ulf Hallmarker said Monday.
One man, a Norwegian in his 30s, died after skiing about 43
miles. The other two were Swedes in their 60s. Since the annual
race began in 1922, seven people have died while competing in it.
Sweden's Oscar Svard won the race by one second, finishing in 3
hours, 51 minutes, 47 seconds. About 15,000 skiers started the race
at Salen, near the Norwegian border. Most needed more than 10 hours
to finish.