Alf Hansen

Alf John Hansen (born July 13, 1948) is a Norwegian athlete and a World Champion and Olympic Champion rower from Norway. In 1976, he won a golf medal at the Montreal Olympic Games in the Men's Double Scull event (2x) with his brother Frank Hansen. The Hansen brothers started their outstanding career with a Silver Medal at the 1974 World Championships, and followed that up with a Gold Medal at the 1975 World Championships.

At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the Hansen brothers took first place winning the Double Scull event. They would go on to win the 1978 and 1979 World Championships in the Double Scull. Unfortunately the Norwegian Rowing federation banned the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, so the brothers was unable to defend their Gold Medal during those games. His brother Frank Hansen officially retired after the games in Moscow. Alf continued his career with a new partner and won two more World Championships together with Rolf Thorsen in 1982 and 1983. He further won a silver medal in the olympic games in Seoul in 1988 and ended his professional career after the Worlds in 1991, he was then 43 years old.

Alf was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal in 1990. The medal is given by the International Rowing Federation (FISA) for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport. It recognizes an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship.