30 kilometres (Classical), Men

The 1987 World Champion was Thomas Wassberg of Sweden but he would improbably finish 42nd in this race. His teammate Gunde Svan was leading the World Cup standings in 1987-88, and would later win the title, but he would finish only 10th, still the leading Swede, as the team had waxing problems in Calgary that would only be resolved when they won the relay. The leader at the early checkpoints was Soviet skier Vladimir Smirnov who was 10.5 seconds ahead of Vegard Ulvang at the 10 km check, and still led at 20 km, by then 8.9 seconds clear of Aleksey Prokurorov, with Ulvang another 11.5 seconds back. But Prokurorov would finish the fastest in the final 10 km to win the gold medal, Smirnov placing second and Ulvang a safe third. During his long career Prokurorov would also win the World Championship at this distance in 1997 and a bronze in 1995. Smirnov would win a medal at 30 km at the next four World Championships, gold in 1989 and 1995, silver in 1993, and bronze in 1991. This was his only Olympic gold medal but he would four titles at the World Championships. This was Ulvang’s only medal in Calgary but he would win four medals and three golds in Albertville in 1992, and in the next four years he would win the 50 km three times at Holmenkollen. He would also medal three times in this event at the World Championships, with silvers in 1989 and 1993, and a bronze in 1991.