The Victoria Award for 2010 has been awarded to Olympic cross country ski gold medalist, Charlotte Kalla. Named in honor of Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, the award was presented on her 33rd birthday, July 14, at Borgholm Castle on the Baltic Sea insular province of Öland.

Founded in 1979 to distinguish Swedish athletes, the honor has been presented annually on the Crown Princess' birthday, which is called Victoria Day. However, this year, because she is honeymooning in Polynesia with Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria has been replaced in the ceremony by her brother, Prince Carl Philip, according to a statement from the event's initiator, Kay Wiestål. According to the Royal Court's web site, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine were scheduled to be present at the ceremonies.

"I hope that there will be another chance to meet with the Crown Princess," lamented Kalla, who traveled to Borgholm from assignments in Turkey promoting the World Cup in 2015 to receive the scholarship and accolades.

Among Olympic gold and silver medalist Kalla's front running competitors for the award were the Swedish Olympics curling team and Olympic gold medalist Björn Ferry. Among other contenders was the Vancouver's ice hockey star from Sweden, Henrik Sedin, who holds the NHL title for scoring.

Source: www.skidor.com