30 kilometres (Classical), Men

This was the first men’s cross-country event in Albertville, and it was raced in the classical style. The leader through most of the race was Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie, who was first at 1.9 km, 8.6 km, and 15 km. But he was passed at the 23.6 km checkpoint by his teammate, Vegard Ulvang. And Ulvang would then finish very strongly, winning the gold medal by 46.2 seconds over Dæhlie. The bronze medal would go to their teammate, Terje Langli, as Norway posted the first medal sweep in men’s cross-country skiing since the 1948 15 km, when Sweden won all three medals.

This was the start of quite a Winter Olympics for Ulvang. He would win four medals and three gold, adding victories in the 10 km and relay, and a silver in the pursuit. Ulvang had trained in 1991 by climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley), the tallest mountain in North America, and then traveling to Greenland, where he skied across the country. This was the first ever Olympic event for Dæhlie but he would also win four medals and three golds in Albertville, winning the pursuit, 50 km, and relay, in addition to his silver in this event. In his career he would become the most medaled Winter Olympian, eventually winning 12 medals, eight gold and four silver. Langli had competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics, but this would be his only individual Olympic medal, although he would add a gold in the relay in Albertville.