Nils Karlsson
Encyclopedia
Nils Emanuel Karlsson, known as Mora-Nisse (born 25 June 1917) is a Swedish
cross-country skier. He was born in Mora
, Dalarna
.
He won the Olympic gold medal in the 50 km at the 1948 Winter Olympics
, a bronze medal in 50 km at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, and a total of 37 gold medals in Swedish national championships, 17 in individual competition.
He also won the Vasaloppet
nine times (in 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953). Karlsson won the Holmenkollen ski festival
50 km event twice (1947 and 1951) as well. For his success in cross-country skiing, Karlsson was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
in 1952 (Shared with Stein Eriksen
, Torbjørn Falkanger
, and Heikki Hasu
.). Eight years earlier, Karlsson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
.
Karlsson has meant a lot to the Vasaloppet, initially through his many victories. With the aid of Sven Jerring's radio sports commentary, he made the Vasaloppet known throughout the country.
After his active career, he participated in the administration of the Vasaloppet, both as a leader and as chief of the course.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
cross-country skier. He was born in Mora
Mora, Sweden
Mora is a locality and the seat of Mora Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 10,940 inhabitants in 2005.-History:There are signs of human activity in the surroundings of Mora dating from 4000 B.C. The earliest found buildings in Mora are from the 7th century...
, Dalarna
Dalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
.
He won the Olympic gold medal in the 50 km at the 1948 Winter Olympics
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
, a bronze medal in 50 km at the 1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1950 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1950 took place during February 1–6, 1950 in Lake Placid, New York, USA and Rumford, Maine, USA. This was Lake Placid's second time hosting the championships after having done so at the 1932 Winter Olympics. It also marked the first time after World War II the...
, and a total of 37 gold medals in Swedish national championships, 17 in individual competition.
He also won the Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world...
nine times (in 1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953). Karlsson won the Holmenkollen ski festival
Holmenkollen ski festival
The Holmenkollen Ski Festival is a traditional annual Nordic skiing event in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Norway. The full official name of the event is Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic. It takes place in March and has been arranged every year since 1892, except for 1898 and during World War II...
50 km event twice (1947 and 1951) as well. For his success in cross-country skiing, Karlsson was awarded the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
in 1952 (Shared with Stein Eriksen
Stein Eriksen
Stein Eriksen is a former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist.-Background:Stein Eriksen was born in Oslo, Norway. His parents were Marius Eriksen and Birgit Heien . Stein's father, Marius Eriksen competed in the 1912 Olympic Games as a gymnast...
, Torbjørn Falkanger
Torbjørn Falkanger
Torbjørn Falkanger is a retired Norwegian ski jumper who was active in the late 1940s and early 1950s.Falkanger earned a silver medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics in ski jumping and also won the Holmenkollen ski festival ski jumping competition twice...
, and Heikki Hasu
Heikki Hasu
Heikki Vihtori Hasu is a Finnish Nordic skier who competed in the late 1940s and early 1950s who was born in Sippola....
.). Eight years earlier, Karlsson was awarded the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
The Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal is an annual award "for the most significant Swedish sports achievement of the year". It has been awarded by a jury led by the Swedish morning paper Svenska Dagbladet since 1925. According to its statutes the Medal may be awarded in November or December to either...
.
Karlsson has meant a lot to the Vasaloppet, initially through his many victories. With the aid of Sven Jerring's radio sports commentary, he made the Vasaloppet known throughout the country.
After his active career, he participated in the administration of the Vasaloppet, both as a leader and as chief of the course.