Egil Danielsen (9 November 1933 – 29 July 2019) was a Norwegianjavelin thrower. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics and won the gold medal in 1956. Danielsen, who used an old-type wooden javelin, did poorly in the 1956 final, which was led by his Polish friend Janusz Sidło. Trying to help Danielsen, Sidło lent him his modern steel javelin, and Michel Macquet gave him a cup of strong coffee. Danielsen set a new world record at 85.71 m and won the gold medal. He could never reproduce that throw.[2][3][4]For his Olympic victory and world record[citation needed] Danielsen was selected Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year in 1956.[5]
Danielsen was an avid cross-country skier before changing to javelin throw. He took fencing lessons from a top Norwegian fencer to improve his flexibility, reflexes and the use of right arm. He retired after the 1960 Olympics and focused on his family and work at the Hamar Fire Brigade.[4] In the 2000s he was a minor political candidate for the Norwegian Pensioner Party.[7]
^ abZablocki, Wojciech (January 2000). "Setting the record straight"(PDF). Journal of Olympic History: 8–10. Archived from the original(PDF) on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
