Henrik Forsberg is more than just Magdalena’s husband. Like his famous wife, he also competed at the world level in both cross-country skiing and biathlon. A dual career that resulted in four Olympic Games.

Henrik Forsberg, often called “Hinken” in skiing circles, followed in the footsteps of his wife Magdalena by switching from cross-country skiing to biathlon, ending his career in the latter sport. Henrik Forsberg joined the national cross-country team when Sweden was at its peak.

Gunde Svan, Torgny Mogren, Christer Majbäck, Jan Ottosson, Thomas Eriksson, Lars Håland, Larry Poromaa, and others were his competitors in the beginning. Later came names like Anders Bergström, Mathias Fredriksson, and Per Elofsson. With all these names, it wasn’t easy to win either in Sweden or internationally.

But on March 9, 1991, “Hinken” stood at the top of the podium after a 30 km freestyle World Cup race in Falun. It was a day of celebration with a Swedish triple victory, where Åsarna skiers Torgny Mogren and Jan Ottosson joined Henrik on the podium.

The year before, he was part of the winning team in the 4×10 km relay at the World Cup in Örnsköldsvik. In total, he achieved 5 individual podium finishes and 14 in relays.

No Olympic medals in four attempts

Three Olympics in cross-country skiing did not result in any medals, but there were two 4th places in relays. Individually, his best result was 9th place in the pursuit race in Albertville in 1992. Forsberg, now 57, represented Bergeforsen SK, north of Sundsvall, during his cross-country career.

His best individual World Championship placement was 5th place in the 50 km race in Thunder Bay, Canada, in 1995. That was the championship known as the “diesel World Championship,” where the organizers placed cloths on the course to clean the skis as athletes skied over them.

Henrik Forsberg participated in four Olympic Games. He competed in biathlon in Salt Lake City in 2002, where his best finish was 47th in the individual race. He also competed in a couple of World Championships in his new sport, but Forsberg’s best results came from cross-country skiing.

Still living in Bergeforsen

In 1996, Henrik Forsberg married Magdalena Wallin, later Forsberg. She had switched to biathlon after a career in the cross-country national team. Most people are familiar with her success.

The Forsberg family still lives in Bergeforsen, and Henrik Forsberg now works as a teacher in nature tourism, motor, and brush saw instruction. According to Langd.se, he also enjoys working in his own forest. In his free time, he loves being in nature, especially hunting.

“Hinken” spent his early years in Borlänge and started his career in Kvarnsvedens GoIF and later Bergeforsen SK. In biathlon, he competed for Piteå and eventually Jämtland Biathlon.

HENRIK FORSBERG

• Born/Age: February 16, 1967/57 years old
• Lives: Bergeforsen
• Occupation: Teacher in nature tourism, motor and brush saw instructor, forest worker in his own forest.
• Family: Wife and two sons, aged 17 and 21
• Clubs as an athlete: Kvarnsveden, Bergeforsen, Piteå, and Jämtland Biathlon
• Eneded Career: 2002
• My Best Memory from my Career: World Cup victory in Falun in 1991
• What I Miss from my Active Career: The competitions
• How I Follow Sports Today: Via radio and TV, and sometimes in person
• My Hobbies Today: Hunting

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