London, Torquay, XIV Olympiad, 13 August 1948. Dane Paul ELVSTROM pictured after winning the Firefly class of the yachting competition. Denmark came first in the event with a total of 5,543 points. Credit: Getty Images/Hulton ArchiveOther names: ELVSTRÖM, Paul Bert
Born: 25 February 1928
Birthplace: Copenhague (Denmark)
Nationality: Denmark
Sport: Sailing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
London 1948
Helsinki 1952
Melbourne / Stockholm 1956
Rome 1960
Mexico 1968
Munich 1972
Los Angeles 1984
Seoul 1988
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 4
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 13 (57,58,59,62,66,67,69,71,74,81)
Forty Years of Olympic Sailing
Denmark's Paul Elvstrøm is one of only three Olympians to win the same individual event four times in a row. He is also one of only four athletes to compete in eight or more Olympics. Elvstrøm won the Firefly sailing class in 1948. This class evolved into the Finn monotype class, which Elvstrøm then won in 1952, 1956 and 1960. After being a reserve on the Danish team in 1964, he competed in 1968 and 1972. Although he did not win a medal, he did place fourth in the 1968 Star class competition. Elvstrøm returned to the Olympics in 1984 and 1988 when his daughter, Trine, crewed for him, making them the only father/daughter combination to have competed together at the Olympics. Trine and Paul Elvstrøm were European champions in the Tornado class in 1983-84 and placed fourth in this class at the 1984 Olympics. Paul Elvstrøm also won 13 World Championships in seven different monotype sailing classes. He is one of only four Olympic athletes to have competed over a 40-year span.
