OSLO, Norway (AP) 鈥� Olympic rowing great , who competed at seven straight Summer Games and won two gold medals, has died. He was aged 50.
Norwegian media reported a statement by Tufte鈥檚 family on Tuesday that he was found unconscious at their farm and died at a hospital in Oslo. He is survived by his wife and two children.
鈥淭ufte brought immense joy through sport to us as a nation,鈥� Norway鈥檚 Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St酶re said in a statement. 鈥淗e was one of Norway鈥檚 greatest sporting heroes, a decorated Summer Olympian, one of the finest rowers we have ever had, and a great role model to many.鈥�
The two-time champion in single sculls competed at each Summer Games from Atlanta in 1996 through the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. He won back-to-back titles at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. In double sculls, Tufte took silver in Sydney in 2000 and bronze in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.
鈥淗e closed out his competitive career at the Tokyo Olympics at age 45, rowing in the men鈥檚 quadruple sculls alongside teammates young enough to have been born after his own Olympic debut,鈥� . 鈥淭he veteran mentor, still on the water, still leading by example.鈥�
Tufte also was in Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games and coached Birgit Skarstein to a silver medal in single sculls.
鈥淎longside 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,鈥� World Rowing said.
The governing body cited a quote from Tufte who once said: 鈥淚鈥檓 not made for resting. I need to do other stuff otherwise I get bored.鈥�
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