Margit Nordin's 126th Birthday

Today’s Doodle celebrates Swedish cross-country skier, physiotherapist, and gymnastics teacher Margit Nordin. On this day in 1897, she was born in Karlstad, Sweden.

Nordin worked as a physiotherapist in Grängesberg and walked or skied a few miles daily to see her patients. As a result of all the travel, she was in great physical shape and decided to put her fitness level to the test.

She signed up for the second annual Vasaloppet, now the world's biggest cross-country ski race, simply because she wanted to find out if she could ski the 90 km. Early 1900’s sports journalists weren’t thrilled when they heard a woman had registered, but there was no rule against it. The grueling race was considered a test of manhood, and they didn't anticipate that a woman would want to join.

Reluctantly, the race officials allowed Nordin to compete. On the morning of March 4, 1923, Nordin lined up alongside 160 men in Sälen and began the long race. Ten hours and nine minutes later, she crossed the finish line grinning and received roaring applause and cheers. The other racers and many sports commentators were angry that Nordin got the loudest cheers despite finishing last. The Vasaloppet organization banned women from participating just eight days after Nordin’s race, claiming that athletic challenges like this are too hard on women’s bodies.

Nordin never raced again, but continued skiing the beautiful Alps on her own and later opened a guesthouse near Bonn, Germany. Fellow female athletes have since been inspired by her bold venture into a sport that wasn’t yet inclusive to women.

During the years that women weren’t welcome in the Vasaloppet, some snuck onto the course or used a fake name and donned a beard or mustache. And after 58 years, in 1981, women were once again allowed to participate. Recently, some women skiers created an initiative, Vasan för Margit, to encourage more women to ride the Vasaloppet. Several racers wear the number Nordin wore, 103, during their race to remember and pay tribute to the first woman that completed it.

Happy brrrrrrthday, Margit Nordin!

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