Niels Pedersen

Born into a poor farming background Niels Pedersen became a master plumber, artist, and champion athlete. Pedersen set several Danish records in athletics and represented his country at two Olympic Games.

Pedersen’s athletics career began in 1904 and he went on to win multiple races in both Denmark and Germany. In 1909 he became a sporting hero in the city of Kolding when he became the Danish champion in the five-mile race. Pedersen became a racewalking specialist, competing in various distances at the Olympics either side of World War I. At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics he took part in the 10km walk, but was disqualified in his heat. History repeated itself at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics when Pedersen was once again disqualified in the heats of the 10km walk. He had better success in the 3,000m walk after qualifying from his heat to finish in 11th place in the final.

After moving from his place of birth in Brenderup to the city of Kolding, Pedersen trained as a plumber, becoming a master plumber in 1922. The city’s coat of arms, located at the entrance of the town hall in Kolding, were designed by architect Ernst Petersen and produced by Pedersen. In 1939 a sculpture named “The Bull”, which Pedersen made, was erected on the harbour.

Pedersen had a pro-German stance during World War II. After the war had ended, he was arrested and spent two years in the Kolding Arrest prison. A special court convicted him of numerous offences including protection fraud, but he was later acquitted. Pedersen’s reputation was damaged further with his daughter Lizzi working for the Gestapo.

Personal Bests: 3000W – 13:36.8e (1920); 10kmW – 46:49.0 (1915).