Kurt Helmudt facts for kids
Helmudt at the 1964 European Championships
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | 7 December 1943 Copenhagen, Denmark |
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| Died | 7 September 2018 (aged 74) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (220 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Roforeningen KVIK, Copenhagen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kurt Helmudt (born December 7, 1943 – died September 7, 2018) was a famous Danish rower. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He achieved this amazing feat with his teammates Bjørn Hasløv, Erik Petersen, and John Hansen.
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Kurt Helmudt: Denmark's Olympic Rowing Champion
Kurt Helmudt was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. From a young age, he showed great talent in rowing. Rowing is a sport where athletes race boats using oars. It takes a lot of strength, teamwork, and practice to be good at it.
Becoming a Top Rower
Kurt Helmudt trained hard at his club, Roforeningen KVIK, in Copenhagen. He grew to be quite tall and strong, standing at 1.94 meters (about 6 feet 4 inches) and weighing 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds). These physical traits were very helpful for a rower. He focused on a specific type of boat called the "coxless four."
What is a Coxless Four?
In rowing, a "four" means there are four rowers in the boat. "Coxless" means there is no coxswain. A coxswain is a person who steers the boat and tells the rowers what to do. In a coxless boat, one of the rowers also steers using a special foot control. This makes teamwork even more important.
Winning Gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Kurt Helmudt's biggest achievement came at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He was part of the Danish team competing in the men's coxless four event. His teammates were Bjørn Hasløv, Erik Petersen, and John Hansen.
The Danish team worked perfectly together. They rowed with incredible power and coordination. Their hard work paid off when they crossed the finish line first. This earned them the gold medal, making them Olympic champions! It was a very proud moment for Denmark and for the team.
Other Big Wins: European and World Championships
Besides his Olympic gold, Kurt Helmudt also won other important medals. In the same year as the Olympics, 1964, he won a silver medal at the European Championships. This competition took place in Amsterdam. He was still part of the coxless four team.
Later in his career, in 1970, Kurt Helmudt won another medal. He earned a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships. This event was held in St. Catharines, Canada. This time, he was with a different team, showing his continued skill and adaptability in the sport.
Kurt Helmudt passed away on September 7, 2018. He is remembered as a true champion in Danish rowing. His Olympic gold medal remains a highlight of his impressive sports career.
