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Egil Danielsen

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Sport
  
Athletics

Role
  
Olympic athlete

Event(s)
  
Javelin throw

Height
  
1.82 m


Personal best(s)
  
85.71 m (1956)

Weight
  
88 kg

Name
  
Egil Danielsen

Club
  
Egil Danielsen wwwnemethjavelinshutlfilesthrowersdanielsen

Born
  
9 November 1933 (age 91) (
1933-11-09
)
Hamar, Norway

Olympic medals
  
Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's javelin throw

Egil Danielsen


Egil Danielsen (born 9 November 1933) is a retired Norwegian javelin thrower. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics and won the gold medal in 1956. Danielsen, who used an old-type wooden javelin, did poorly in the 1956 final, which was led by his Polish friend Janusz Sidło. Trying to help Danielsen, Sidło lent him his modern steel javelin, and Michel Macquet gave him a cup of strong coffee. Danielsen set a new world record at 85.71 m and won the gold medal. He could never reproduce that throw. For his Olympic victory and world record Danielsen was selected Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 1956.

Danielsen finished tenth at the 1954 European Championships and won a silver medal in 1958, behind Sidło. He became Norwegian champion in 1953–1957.

Danielsen was an avid cross-country skier before changing to javelin throw. He took fencing lessons from a top Norwegian fencer to improve his flexibility, reflexes and the use of right arm. He retired after the 1960 Olympics and focused on his family and work at the Hamar Fire Brigade. In the 2000s he has been a minor political candidate for the Norwegian Pensioner Party.

References

Egil Danielsen Wikipedia


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