Denmark (DEN)

Denmark’s connection with the Olympic Movement began in 1894 when Fredrik Bajer, a member of the Danish Parliament, was an honorary member of the International Congress in Paris at which the Olympic Games were revived. After Denmark had participated in the 1896 Olympics, the first Danish International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member, Niels Holbeck, was co-opted in 1899 but it was not until 29 October 1905 that a Danish National Olympic Committee (NOC) was formed. In 1993 the Danish National Olympic Committee merged with the Dansk Idræts-Forbund to become the Danmarks Idræts-Forbund.

Denmark has competed at every Summer Olympic Games, except 1904. Danish athletes have won 214 Olympic medals at the Summer Games, 48 of them gold. Two shooters from the early 20th century won the most Olympic medals for Denmark with five – Lars Jørgen Madsen and Niels Larsen. In 2012 the rower Eskild Ebbesen also won his fifth Olympic medal for Denmark. But their greatest Olympian has likely been sailor Paul Elvstrøm who won four gold medals, winning the monotype class consecutively from 1948-60.

Denmark’s attendance at the Olympic Winter Games has been less consistent. After making their winter début in 1948, they missed the Olympic Winter Games of 1956, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984, but have participated in all Winter Games since 1988, giving them 15 appearances. Denmark has won one medal in the Olympic Winter Games, that a silver in women’s curling in 1998. The nation has had Olympians competing in eight disciplines – Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and speedskating.

A few athletes from Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, have competed for Denmark. There have been six Danish Winter Olympians born in Greenland, the first being Apollo Lynge, in 1968 cross-country skiing.

In 1921, the Dansk Idræts-Forbund was awarded the Olympic Cup.