Helmer Pedersen

Helmer Orlaf Leif Pedersen (28 March 1930 in Copenhagen, Denmark – 24 August 1987) was an Olympic gold medallist for New Zealand in yachting.[1] With Earle Wells, Pedersen won the Flying Dutchman class at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Pedersen had previously been the reserve for the same class at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

Helmer Pedersen
Personal information
Birth nameHelmer Orlaf Leif Pedersen[1]
Born(1930-03-28)28 March 1930
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died24 August 1987 (1987-08-25) (aged 57)
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight80 kg (180 lb)[1]
Sport
SportSailing
ClubOtahuhu Sailing Club
Medal record
Men's Sailing
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo Flying Dutchman class

In his home country of Denmark he had been mainly a Finn class yachtsman. He did not make any Danish Olympic team due to the presence of the great Paul Elvstrøm, although he was a reserve for Denmark at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Finland.

He died in 1987 from lung cancer after having been a heavy smoker.[2] He was retrospectively inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.[2]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Helmer Pedersen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. "Helmer Pedersen". Olympic.org.nz. New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 24 August 2017.


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