Olaf Tufte, the two-time Olympic rowing champion who became the first Norwegian to compete at seven Games, died this week at age 50. Tufte died in an Oslo hospital on July 21, a day after he was found unconscious at his family farm on July 20 and airlifted to Rikshospitalet.
Tufte won Olympic gold in single sculls at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, adding a silver in double sculls from Sydney 2000 and a bronze from Rio 2016. His seven Olympic appearances spanned from 1996 to 2021. He also collected seven world championship medals, including two golds. He took up rowing at age 17 at Horten Roklubb and was a recipient of the Thomas Keller Medal, the sport's highest honour, as well as Aftenposten's gold medal and the Fearnley Olympic Honour Award.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented on Tufte's death on July 21, paying tribute to the country's most decorated rower.