Lauritz Christian Østrup

Lauritz Christian Østrup was one of Denmark’s best fencers before World War I particularly with the sabre. He was a four-time Danish sabre champion in 1908 and consecutively from 1910-12 representing the Københavns Fægteklub. Østrup participated in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games with all three weapons, equally successful with the épée and the sabre, advancing to the semi-finals of the individual event with both weapons in 1908. With the Danish épée team, he placed fifth at both Olympics.

After his active career, Østrup worked as a fencing teacher from 1915-20, initially at the Salle Mahaut in København (Copenhagen) and later in his own fencing hall. As a military officer, he was a fencing teacher at the naval school from 1917. Beginning in 1931 he was employed as a fencing instructor at the Royal Theatre. Additionally, he was an instructor in several clubs and schools, including the Swedish Gymnastics Institute in Lund.