Olaf Tufte dead at 50: Olympic rowing legend found unconscious on farm as prime minister leads devastating tributes

OLYMPIC rowing icon Olaf Tufte has died at the age of 50. The Norwegian won two gold medals in single sculls in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Olaf Tufte, a two-time Olympic champion, has died at the age of 50 Credit: AP Norwegian media said he had died at an Oslo hospital after being found unconscious at his family farm Credit: Getty He also took home silver and bronze in double sculls in 2000 and 2016, respectively. But Tufte, who competed in an incredible seven Olympic Games between Atlanta 1996 and Tokyo 2021 and was also a two-time world champion, sadly passed away. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Norwegian media reported he was found unconscious at his family farm and transported to a hospital in Oslo on Monday. Tufte later died in the hospital, with his family announcing the news on Tuesday. A statement said: “Medical personnel arrived quickly at the scene and life-saving first aid was initiated before Tufte was airlifted to hospital for further treatment. “There were no witnesses to the incident and no suspicion of a workplace accident.” World Rowing said in a poignant statement: “He closed out his competitive career at the Tokyo Olympics at age 45, rowing in the men’s quadruple sculls alongside team-mates young enough to have been born after his own Olympic debut. “The veteran mentor, still on the water, still leading by example. Most read in Sport “Alongside his rowing, Tufte ran the family farm, worked as a volunteer firefighter, and built businesses including a concrete company, the clothing brand Tufte Wear and a brewery.” Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store added: “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.” After retiring from competing himself, Tufte then became a coach for the Norwegian Paralympic Games, where he helped Birgit Skarstein to a silver medal. He is survived by his wife and two children. Comment now