Assar Rönnlund

Who was Assar Rönnlund?

Bernt Assar Rönnlund was a Swedish cross-country skier. Rönnlund's biggest success was at the 1962 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Zakopane where he won two gold medals and a silver. As a result, he earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal that year for his championship successes. Rönnlund was the anchorman of the Swedish 4 × 10 km relay team at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, bringing the team from fourth place to victory. Rönnlund also won the Vasaloppet in 1967 and the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival twice. For his cross-country skiing successes, Rönnlund was awarded the Holmenkollen Medal in 1968.

After retierment from active competition, he was hired in 1972 by The Swedish Radio Corporation as a cross-country skiing expert commentator. He retired from broadcasting after the 2003 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Rönnlund was born in Sävar, Umeå, in northern Sweden.

He was married to fellow Swedish cross-country skier Toini Gustafsson, a 1967 Holmenkollen medalist. They are the second husband-wife team to earn this honor. They are also the only husband-wife team to ever win the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal with Gustafsson earning the honor in 1968.