In the 1960s Danish rower John Ørsted Hansen won multiple medals in the coxless fours including gold at the Olympics. In August 1964 Hansen, along with compatriots Erik Petersen, Kurt Helmudt, and Bjørn Borgen Hasløv, won silver at the European Championships in Amsterdam. Whilst disappointed on missing out on gold, this was perfect preparation for the Danish quartet ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. At the Games the Danish crew comfortably won their heat to advance to the final, where they beat Great Britain by more than a second to win gold. Their victory earned them accolades from the Danish press for the best sporting performance of the year. In 1966 the four rowers won the Henley Regatta, and became the Danish champions in the both the fours and coxless fours. Outside of rowing Hansen worked as a plumber.
Denmark