Axel Jensen

Born in 1899 in Odense, Denmark, Axel Jensen won his first cross-country race in 1916 before running in his first marathon three years later where he won on his début. In 1920 Jensen was selected to run in the marathon at the Antwerpen Olympics but was forced to retire from the race just five kilometres from the finish after suffering with stomach problems. He returned to the Olympics for the Paris Games in 1924 where he finished in 11th place.

Jensen was one of the best long-distance runners to ever come from Denmark, winning 111 races out of the 169 he competed in. In 1923 he won the Sporting Life marathon in London, which was considered to be the unofficial world championship. He ran the course in 2:40.47, a Danish record that stood until 1946. Jensen retired from athletics in 1927 to work in the family’s undertaker business.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-40:46 (1923).