Egil Danielsen

Egil Danielsen (9 November 1933 – 29 July 2019) was a 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.[2][3][4] For his Olympic victory and world record Danielsen was selected Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 1956.

Egil Danielsen

Danielsen after breaking the 70 m barrier in September 1953[1]
Personal information
Born	9 November 1933 Hamar, Norway
Died	29 July 2019 (aged 85) Bergen, Norway
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	88 kg (194 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Javelin throw
Club	Hamar IL
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	85.71 m (1956)[1]
Medal record Representing  Norway Olympic Games 1956 Melbourne Javelin throw European Championships Stockholm 1958 Javelin throw

Danielsen finished tenth at the 1954 European Championships and won a silver medal in 1958, behind Sidło. He became Norwegian champion in 1953–1957.[5]

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.[4] In the 2000s he was a minor political candidate for the Norwegian Pensioner Party.[6]

References

1. Egil Danielsen. trackfield.brinkster.net
2. Egil Danielsen. sports-reference.com
3. Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw Archived 4 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
4. Zablocki, Wojciech (January 2000). "Setting the record straight" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History: 8–10.
5. Norwegian championships in javelin throw Archived 6 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. friidrett.no (in Norwegian)
6. Statistics Norway (2005). "Storting Election 2005. Official electoral lists, by county". Storting Election 2005. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2007.

Preceded by Audun Boysen	Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year 1956	Succeeded by Magne Lystad