Eskild Balschmidt Ebbesen (born 27 May 1972, in Silkeborg, Midtjylland) is a Danish lightweight rower, who as part of the Gold Four has won a total number of five Olympic medals (three gold) and six World Championship gold medals.

Eskild Ebbesen
Ebbesen in 2012
Personal information
Birth nameEskild Balschmidt Ebbesen
Born (1972-05-27) 27 May 1972 (age 52)
Silkeborg, Midtjylland
Sport
SportRowing
Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing  Denmark
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Lightweight coxless four
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Lightweight coxless four
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Lightweight coxless four
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney Lightweight coxless four
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Lightweight coxless four

Ebbesen was the flag bearer of the Danish team at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Ebbesen and his crew took an alternative approach to racing and is quoted saying:

Our strategy, for every race, was always to be first, to be number one from the beginning of the race. A fast start was important. It became natural for us to do a high stroke rate. It then escalated. I don't think we have many strokes under 40.

Ebbesen retired from competitive rowing at the age of 40 after the 2012 London Olympics. In the following year, he won the Thomas Keller Medal, the highest honour in rowing.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Most successful Danish sportsman awarded Thomas Keller Medal". International Rowing Federation. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Danish Sports Name of the Year
1998 (with Ebert, Feddersen, Poulsen)
2004 (with Ebert, Kristensen, Mølvig)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Thomas Keller Medal
2013
Succeeded by