“Nanny” Clausen was the first female gold medal winner from Denmark and through 2016 remains the only one in diving. In addition to the gold medal Clausen also received the “Challenge Prize” donated by Countess Casa Miranda. Clausen joined the Danish Women’s Sports Association in 1915 and had her first podium place in 1917, when she was second in the first ever national championship. Her first title came the following year from the 3-metre springboard. In 1919 Clausen concentrated on high diving and won several Danish and international competitions. At the Olympics she was initially considered as a member of the gymnastics demonstration team, but since the demonstration was scheduled for the day before the high diving, she ended up only participating in diving. After the Olympics, Clausen finished her active career and went to Hamburg to study but continued to act as a judge. She is considered as one of the pioneers of women’s sports in her country. Clausen worked as a clerk in her father’s umbrella factory and her husband was a ship’s engineer. In 1988, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Denmark