Olympic rowing legend Olaf Tufte, one of Norway’s greatest athletes and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has died at the age of 50 after being found unconscious at his family farm. He was taken to a hospital in Oslo, where he later died, according to Norwegian media. Tufte competed in seven Olympic Games between 1996 and 2021, built one of the longest careers in rowing and remained involved in the sport even after retiring.
Olaf Tufte’s Olympic career made him one of Norway’s greatest sporting heroes
Olaf Tufte became one of the biggest names in rowing through a career that lasted more than two decades. He won Olympic gold in the men’s single sculls at the 2004 Athens Games and defended that title four years later in Beijing. Earlier, he earned silver in the men’s double sculls at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He returned to the podium once again at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning bronze in the same event.His Olympic journey began at the 1996 Atlanta Games and ended at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. According to World Rowing, Tufte competed in the men’s quadruple sculls at the age of 45 alongside teammates who were born after his first Olympic appearance. Beyond the Olympics, he won six medals at the World Rowing Championships, including two gold medals.Retirement did not take him away from rowing. Tufte coached Birgit Skarstein at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where she won a silver medal. Outside the sport, he managed his family farm, served as a volunteer firefighter and also ran several businesses, including Tufte Wear, a concrete company and a brewery.Tufte once explained what rowing meant to him in an interview with World Rowing. “I know what I do, I know the rowing family, and I managed to do rowing as a lifestyle, not as a moment.”
Jonas Gahr Støre, World Rowing and Mahe Drysdale lead tributes to Olaf Tufte
Messages remembering Tufte began pouring in soon after news of his death was reported. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, “Tufte brought immense joy through sport to us as a nation. He was one of Norway’s greatest sporting heroes, a decorated Summer Olympian, one of the finest rowers we have ever had, and a great role model to many.”World Rowing remembered him as an athlete who continued leading by example throughout his career, saying he remained a mentor even in his final Olympic appearance.Former Olympic rival Mahe Drysdale shared an emotional tribute with Dagbladet. “I was in shock. I simply did not believe it. Olaf was a titan. He seemed invincible. This is a huge shock, both for me personally and for the entire rowing community.”Drysdale added, “Olaf was the driving force behind the friendships between us rowers. We were fierce rivals, but at the same time best friends. He was a tremendous athlete. But he was even greater as a friend. He had a very special ability to make everyone feel important. He brought people together.”Norwegian rally driver Petter Solberg also paid tribute, writing, “Life can sometimes be so unpredictable and unfair. Today, heaven gained a new star – one of its greatest. To most people, Olaf Tufte was a two-time Olympic champion and two-time World Champion in rowing. One of the strongest rowers the world has ever seen, and a legend of Norwegian sports.”