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Olaf Tufte, an Olympic rower who competed in seven Olympics for Norway, has died, his family announced Tuesday. He was 50 years old.
Tufte competed in his first Olympics in 1996, when the Games were held in Atlanta. He first competed in the men’s coxless four before moving into the singles and double sculls, where he found most of his success on the world stage.
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Bronze medalists Kjetil Borch and Olaf Tufte of Norway celebrate after the men’s double sculls final at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 11, 2016. (Reuters)
He won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games in the single scull. He won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics in the double sculls and a bronze medal in 2016 in the double sculls. He made a seventh Olympic appearance in 2021 when the Games were held in Tokyo.
Tufte was found unconscious on his family farm on Monday, Reuters reported, citing a Norwegian media statement.
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Olaf Tufte of Norway competes in the men’s sculls final at the 2006 Rowing World Cup on Lake Rotsee outside Lucerne, Switzerland July 9, 2006. Tufte won the race ahead of New Zealand’s Mahe Drysdale and Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic finished third. (Reuters)
“Medical personnel quickly arrived on scene and first aid was provided before Tufte was airlifted to hospital for further treatment,” the statement said.
“There were no witnesses to the incident and no suspicion of a workplace accident.”
German Olympic star Jason Osborne was among those who reacted to the news of Tufte’s death.
“I remember watching you as a kid and winning in Beijing,” he said via Olympics.com. “This was my motivation to start my rowing career! You have been and always will be a true inspiration! Champion RIP.”
Norwegian Olaf Tufte competes in the quarterfinals of the men’s single scull at the World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, August 31, 2011. (Reuters)
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Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told Norwegian media that the decorated rower “has brought us immense sporting joy as a nation.”
