Andre Victor Olsson (28 August 1903 – 3 July 1990) was a New Zealand rower who won two medals representing his country at the 1930 British Empire Games.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth name | Andre Victor Olsson | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 August 1903 Picton, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | 3 July 1990 (aged 86) | |||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Carpenter[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft)[2] | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (178 lb)[2] | |||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Ivy Ethel Julia Chapman
(m. 1935; died 1968) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Picton Rowing Club | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and family
editBorn in Picton on 28 August 1903, Olsson was the son of Victor Olsson and Christina Olsson (née McKay).[3] He married Ivy Ethel Julia Chapman on 31 January 1935.[4]
Rowing
editA member of the Picton Rowing Club, Olsson was described as "a rower of tremendous strength and stamina".[2] He was selected in the New Zealand eight for the 1928 Olympic Games, but they did not travel because of insufficient funds.[5]
Competing for New Zealand at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, he won a silver medal as a member of the men's eight that lost to the English crew by three-quarters of a length.[6][7] Also at the Hamilton games, he won the bronze medal in the coxless four, alongside Berry Johnson, Alex Ross and Charles Saunders.[6]
In April 1932, Olsson was named in the New Zealand team to compete at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.[8][9] However, the following month he withdrew, and was replaced by Noel Pope.[10]
Death
editOlsson died on 3 July 1990, and he was buried at Picton Cemetery.[11]
References
edit- ^ Electoral district of Wairau: general roll of persons entitled to vote for Members of Parliament in New Zealand. 1935. p. 130.
- ^ a b c "For Empire Games: the oarsmen to get their big opportunity". NZ Truth. 10 April 1930. p. 17. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Birth index: registration number 1903/11299". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Marriage index: registration number 1935/8151". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "New Zealand's Olympic eights history". New Zealand Herald. 7 August 2015. p. B06.
- ^ a b "Victor Olsson". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Rowing". Evening Post. 18 October 1930. p. 22. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Eight-oar rowing". New Zealand Herald. 28 March 1932. p. 11. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Olympic Games: New Zealand team". The Press. 13 April 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Olympic Games: New Zealand rowing crew". Northern Advocate. 17 May 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Cemetery records search". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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