Alf Hansen

Alf and Frank Hansen in 1971

Olympic medal record
Men's rowing
Competitor for  Norway
Gold	1976 Montreal	Double sculls
Silver	1988 Seoul	Quadruple sculls
World Championships
Gold	1975 Nottingham	Double sculls
Gold	1978 Hamilton	Double sculls
Gold	Bled 1979	Double sculls
Gold	Luzern 1982	Double sculls
Silver	1974 Luzern	Double sculls
Silver	1983 Duisburg	Double sculls
Silver	1987 Copenhagen	Quadruple sculls
Bronze	1970 St. Catharines	Coxless fours
Bronze	1981 Munich	Double sculls

Alf John Hansen (born 13 July 1948) is a World and Olympic champion rower from Norway.^[1]

In 1976, he won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games in the Men's Double Scull event (2x) with his brother Frank Hansen. The Hansen brothers started their outstanding career with a Silver Medal at the 1974 World Championships, and followed that up with a Gold Medal at the 1975 World Championships. They would go on to win the 1978 and 1979 World Championships in the Double Scull. In the Montral Olympics they won the Gold Medals in the same boat. Unfortunately the Norwegian Rowing federation banned the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, so the brothers was unable to defend their Gold Medal during those games. His brother Frank Hansen officially retired after the games in Moscow. Alf continued his career with a new partner and won gold then silver at the World Championships together with Rolf Thorsen in 1982 and 1983. He further won a silver medal in the olympic games in Seoul in 1988 and ended his professional career after the Worlds in 1991, he was then 43 years old.

Alf was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal in 1990. The medal is given by the International Rowing Federation (FISA) for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport. It recognizes an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship.

References