Viggo Jensen facts for kids
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Medal record
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Alexander Viggo Jensen was a Danish athlete who made history! He was born on June 22, 1874, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and passed away there on November 2, 1930. Viggo was the very first person from Denmark and the Nordic countries to win an Olympic gold medal. This amazing achievement happened at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
Viggo was a very talented and versatile athlete. He competed in many different sports, including Olympic weightlifting, sport shooting, gymnastics, and track and field.
Contents
Viggo Jensen's Olympic Journey
Weightlifting Wins
Viggo Jensen's first big success at the 1896 Olympics was in weightlifting.
Two-Handed Lift Gold
The first weightlifting event was the "two-handed lift," which is similar to what we now call the clean and jerk. Viggo lifted a heavy weight of 111.5 kilograms. Another athlete, Launceston Elliot from Great Britain, lifted the exact same weight.
The judges decided that Viggo had performed his lift with better technique. So, they awarded him the first-place gold medal! The British team disagreed and asked for more attempts for both lifters. Even after these extra tries, neither athlete improved their score. Viggo kept his gold medal, but he hurt his shoulder during the extra lifts.
One-Handed Lift Silver
Because of his shoulder injury, Viggo had a harder time in the "one-handed lift," also known as the snatch. He could only lift 57.0 kilograms. Launceston Elliot lifted 71.0 kilograms, taking first place. Viggo still earned a silver medal for his effort.
Track and Field Events
Viggo also competed in some track and field events.
Shot Put and Discus
He took part in the shot put competition, where he finished in fourth place. He also competed in the discus throw, placing sixth.
Gymnastics Challenge
In gymnastics, Viggo entered the rope climbing event. The rope was 14 meters (about 46 feet) high! He didn't manage to reach the very top of the rope. He finished in fourth place, behind two Greek athletes who reached the top and Fritz Hofmann, who climbed higher than Viggo.
Shooting Skills
Viggo Jensen also showed his skills in two rifle shooting events.
Military Rifle
In the military rifle event, he placed sixth. He hit the target 30 times out of 40 shots.
Free Rifle Bronze
The "free rifle" event was more successful for Viggo. He earned a bronze medal, finishing in third place. He hit the target 31 times.
