Claus Olesen
Personal information
Full nameClaus Elsborg Olesen
Nationality Denmark
Born (1974-08-21) 21 August 1974 (age 49)
Galten, Skanderborg,
Denmark
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight105 kg (231 lb)
Sailing career
ClassKeelboat
ClubKaløvig Bådelaug[1]
Medal record
Men's sailing
Representing  Denmark
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Hyères Star

Claus Elsborg Olesen (born 21 August 1974 in Galten, Skandenborg) is a retired Danish sailor, who specialized in two-person keelboat (Star) class.[1][2] He represented Denmark in the Star class in two editions of the Olympic Games (2004 and 2012), and also shared bronze medals with his partner Michael Hestbæk at the 2012 Star World Championships in Hyères, France.[3] Olesen has also been training throughout most of his sporting career for Kaløvig Bådelaug Yacht Club in Århus.[1][4]

Olesen made his official debut at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where he paired up with Nicklas Holm in the Star class. On 16 August 2004 Olesen had almost been injured and charged in a road accident, when his partner Holm struck and killed a British pedestrian while speeding in his car on the way to witness the Danish handball team's prelim match.[5][6] Being overshadowed and cleared by the accident charges, the Danish duo recorded a net score of 83 points to establish a satisfying ninth-place finish in a fleet of seventeen boats, trailing behind Bermuda (led by four-time Olympian Peter Bromby) by a single mark.[7][8]

Eight years after competing in his last Olympics, Olesen qualified as a 38-year-old veteran and a crew member for the Danish squad in the Star class at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by placing third and receiving a berth from the World Championships in Hyères, France.[3][9][10] Teaming with his new partner and four-time Olympian Michael Hestbæk in the opening series, the Danish duo occupied an eleventh spot with a net score of 89, missing out a chance to compete for the medal race by nine points behind French sailors Pierre-Alexis Ponsot and Xavier Rohart.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Claus Olesen". London 2012 Olympics. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Claus Olesen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Scheidt And Prada Make It Two In A Row". ISAF. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  4. ^ "En OL-sejler fra Kaløvig Bådelaug var søndag involveret i en dødsulykke i Athen" [An Olympic sailor from Kaløvig Bådelaug was involved in a fatal accident in Athens on Sunday] (in Danish). TV 2 (Denmark). 16 August 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Denmark's Holm confirms he'll sail". CNN. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Holm is former Danish sailor of year". ESPN. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Men's Star Class". Athens 2004. BBC Sport. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Starbåd ude af medaljekamp" [Star sailors are out for the medal] (in Danish). Berlingske. 26 August 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  9. ^ Lund, Kasper Heide (11 May 2012). "Danske starbådsejlere vinder VM-bronze" [Danish sailors win bronze at the World Champs] (in Danish). TV 2 (Denmark). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  10. ^ "VM Star: Fantastisk bronze til Michael Hestbæk & Claus Olesen" [Star World Champs: A brilliant bronze for Michael Hestbæk & Claus Olesen] (in Danish). Bådmagasinet. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Men's Star". London 2012 Olympics. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 6 April 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Michael Hestbæks fjerde og sidste OL" [Michael Hestbæk competes in his fourth and final Olympics] (in Danish). Dinby.dk. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2014.

External links


Swedish Champions in Star
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