Alf Hansen
Encyclopedia
Alf John Hansen (born July 13, 1948) is a World and Olympic champion rower
from Norway.
In 1976, he won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games
in the Men's Double Scull event (2x) with his brother Frank Hansen
. The Hansen brothers started their outstanding career with a Silver Medal at the 1974 World Championships, and followed that up with a Gold Medal at the 1975 World Championships. They would go on to win the 1978 and 1979 World Championships in the Double Scull. In the Montral Olympics they won the Gold Medals in the same boat. Unfortunately the Norwegian Rowing federation banned the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, so the brothers was unable to defend their Gold Medal during those games. His brother Frank Hansen officially retired after the games in Moscow. Alf continued his career with a new partner and won two more World Championships together with Rolf Thorsen in 1982 and 1983. He further won a silver medal in the olympic games in Seoul in 1988 and ended his professional career after the Worlds in 1991, he was then 43 years old.
Alf was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal
in 1990. The medal is given by the International Rowing Federation
(FISA) for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing
. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport. It recognizes an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship
.
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
from Norway.
In 1976, he won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in the Men's Double Scull event (2x) with his brother Frank Hansen
Frank Hansen (rower)
Frank Hansen was a World Champion and Olympic Champion rower for Norway. In 1972, he won a silver medal at the Munich Olympic Games in the Men's Double Sculls event with his then partner Svein Thøgersen....
. The Hansen brothers started their outstanding career with a Silver Medal at the 1974 World Championships, and followed that up with a Gold Medal at the 1975 World Championships. They would go on to win the 1978 and 1979 World Championships in the Double Scull. In the Montral Olympics they won the Gold Medals in the same boat. Unfortunately the Norwegian Rowing federation banned the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, so the brothers was unable to defend their Gold Medal during those games. His brother Frank Hansen officially retired after the games in Moscow. Alf continued his career with a new partner and won two more World Championships together with Rolf Thorsen in 1982 and 1983. He further won a silver medal in the olympic games in Seoul in 1988 and ended his professional career after the Worlds in 1991, he was then 43 years old.
Alf was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal
Thomas Keller Medal
The Thomas Keller Medal is given by the International Rowing Federation for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport...
in 1990. The medal is given by the International Rowing Federation
International Rowing Federation
The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, or FISA for short, is the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing. Its current president is Denis Oswald...
(FISA) for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport. It recognizes an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
.