Willy Rasmussen

In the decade leading up to the start of World War II Willy Rasmussen was one of the best all-round track and field athletes in Denmark. From 1929 to 1937 Rasmussen won more than a dozen Danish titles, in addition to setting nine national records across multiple different disciplines. He won his first national titles in 1929 with victory in both the long jump and the decathlon. He would go on to dominate in these two disciplines in the 1930s, winning six more titles in the long jump (1930–34, 1936) and three in the decathlon (1930, 1932, 1934). He was also the Danish champion in the triple jump (1931–32), pentathlon (1930), and the 4 x 100 metres (1935–37).

Rasmussen set three national records in the long jump, with his mark of 7.30 metres in 1931 standing until 1971. He set other national records in the high jump, pentathlon, decathlon, triple jump, and the 4 x 100 metres relay. He competed in the long jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but had a disappointing Games after being eliminated in the qualifying round. Whilst competing in athletics he studied law at the University of København and later became a solicitor. Rasmussen was only 47-years-old when he died in September 1958.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.30 (1931).