Egil Danielsen

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Egil Danielsen (9 November 1933 – 29 July 2019) was a Norwegian javelin thrower. He competed in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games and won the gold medal in 1956, setting a world record of 85.71 metres. In the Melbourne final he started with an old wooden javelin and struggled, but his friend Janusz Sidło lent him a steel javelin and another teammate, Michel Macquet, offered a cup of strong coffee, which helped him when he threw his best. Danielsen's world record stood for a time, but he never matched it again. For his Olympic victory and world record he was named Norway's Sportsperson of the Year in 1956. He also finished 10th at the 1954 European Championships and won a silver medal in 1958 behind Sidło. He was Norwegian champion from 1953 to 1957. Before focusing on javelin he enjoyed cross-country skiing and even took fencing lessons to improve flexibility and the use of his right arm. He retired after the 1960 Olympics and worked for the Hamar Fire Brigade while focusing on his family. In the 2000s he stood as a minor candidate for the Norwegian Pensioner Party. He was born in Hamar, Norway, and died in Bergen, at age 85.