Egil Danielsen facts for kids

Danielsen after breaking the 70 m barrier in September 1953
Quick facts for kids 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)
Medal record Representing  Norway Olympic Games Gold 1956 Melbourne Javelin throw European Championships Silver Stockholm 1958 Javelin throw

Egil Danielsen (born November 9, 1933 – died July 29, 2019) was a famous Norwegian athlete. He was best known for his incredible skill in the javelin throw. Egil won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games. He was also named the Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 1956.

The Amazing 1956 Olympic Gold Medal

Egil Danielsen competed in the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia. During the javelin final, things were not going well for him at first. He was using an older type of wooden javelin. His friend, Janusz Sidło from Poland, was leading the competition.

To help Egil, Janusz did something very kind. He lent Egil his modern steel javelin. Another athlete, Michel Macquet, even gave Egil a cup of strong coffee. With this help, Egil made an unforgettable throw. He threw the javelin an amazing 85.71 meters! This was a new world record at the time. This incredible throw won him the gold medal. It was a truly special moment in sports history. Egil was never able to throw the javelin that far again.

Other Big Wins and Achievements

Besides his Olympic gold, Egil Danielsen had other successes. He competed in the 1954 European Championships. There, he finished in tenth place.

Later, in 1958, he won a silver medal at the European Championships. He finished just behind his friend, Janusz Sidło. Egil was also the top javelin thrower in Norway for many years. He won the Norwegian championship five times in a row, from 1953 to 1957.

From Skis to Javelins

Before becoming a javelin thrower, Egil Danielsen was a keen cross-country skier. He loved skiing and was quite good at it. Eventually, he decided to switch to the javelin throw.

To improve his javelin skills, Egil even took fencing lessons. Fencing helped him become more flexible. It also improved his reflexes and the way he used his right arm. These lessons helped him become a better javelin thrower.

Life After Sports

Egil Danielsen stopped competing after the 1960 Olympics. He then focused on his family and his job. He worked at the Hamar Fire Brigade. This was a very important job, helping to keep his community safe.

In his later years, in the 2000s, Egil also became involved in politics. He was a candidate for the Norwegian Pensioner Party. This party works to support the interests of older people. Egil Danielsen passed away on July 29, 2019, at the age of 85.