Niels Holst-Sørensen

Niels Holst-Sørensen was a top runner, winning a gold medal in the 400 metres at the 1946 European Championships, and taking a silver medal that year in the 800 metres. He won 18 Danish Championships in his career and in 1943 led the world list for the 800 with 1:48.9. He was a career military man who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force. In 1970 Holst-Sørensen was promoted to Major-General and named Commander of the NATO Air Forces in the Baltics. He retired from the military in 1987 at age 65.

In sports administration, Holst-Sørensen was President of the Danish Olympic Committee from 1981-84. He was co-opted onto the IOC in June 1977, and remained a member until his resignation in December 2002, after which he was named an Honorary Member. He served on the Coordination Commissions for four Winter Olympic Games, those of 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002. He also served on the following commissions: Study and Evaluation Commission for the Preparation of the Olympic Games (1984-88), Commission of New Sources of Financing (1989-97), and Marketing Commission (1998-2002).

Personal Best: 800 – 1:48.9 (1943).