Three skiers dead at Vasaloppet cross-country marathon{mosimage}MORA, Sweden -- Two skiers competing in the Vasaloppet cross-country ski marathon died during the race and a third man died before the race began.

The two who died during the 56-mile event Sunday were being examined by pathologists, but all three most likely had heart attacks, race doctor Ulf Hallmarker said Monday.

One man, a Norwegian in his 30s, died after skiing about 43 miles. The other two were Swedes in their 60s. Since the annual race began in 1922, seven people have died while competing in it.

Sweden's Oscar Svard won the race by one second, finishing in 3 hours, 51 minutes, 47 seconds. About 15,000 skiers started the race at Salen, near the Norwegian border. Most needed more than 10 hours to finish.

-The Associated Press