Paul Elvstrøm

Paul Elvstrøm
Elvstrøm c. 1972
Personal information
Full namePaul Bert Elvstrøm
NationalityDanish
Born(1928-02-25)25 February 1928
Hellerup, Denmark
Died7 December 2016(2016-12-07) (aged 88)
Hellerup, Denmark
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
SportSailing
Retired1988
Sailing career
Class(es)5.5 Metre, 505, Finn, Firefly, Flying Dutchman, Snipe, Soling, Star, Tornado
ClubHellerup Sejlklub, Gentofte
Medal record
Sailing
Representing  Denmark
International athletics competitions
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 4 0 0
World Championships 13 2 2
Total 17 2 2
Olympic Games
1948 LondonFirefly class
1952 HelsinkiFinn class
1956 MelbourneFinn class
1960 RomeFinn class
World Championships
1957 La Baule505 class
1958 La Baule505 class
1958 ZeebruggeFinn class
1959 CopenhagenFinn class
1959 Porto AlegreSnipe class
1962 St. PetersburgFlying Dutchman class
1966 Copenhagen5.5 metres class
1966 KielStar class
1967 CopenhagenStar class
1969 CopenhagenSoling class
1972 MarstrandHalf Ton class
1974 SydneySoling class
1981 PooleHalf Ton class
1956 BurnhamFinn class
1969 San DiegoStar class
1971 New YorkSoling class
1985 TravemündeTornado class

Paul Bert Elvstrøm (25 February 1928 7 December 2016) was a Danish yachtsman and the founder of Elvstrøm Sails. He won four Olympic gold medals and thirteen world titles in a range of classes including Snipe, Soling, Star, Flying Dutchman, Finn, 505, and 5.5 Metre. For his achievements, Elvstrøm was chosen as "Danish Sportsman of the Century."