Dänemark

Exciting sporting facts

The first country with compulsory PE lessons for pupils
In 1804 Franz Nachtegall founded the Military Gymnastics Institute in Copenhagen, the very first gym of the modern age. Thanks to his efforts, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce compulsory gymnastics lessons in all schools.

Early Olympic triumphs
In 1896 Denmark won 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals and 3 third places (there were no bronze medals in those days) in the first Olympic Games of modern times, which were held in Athens. The most versatile and successful athlete was Viggo Jensen, who competed in the following disciplines: weightlifting, wrestling, gymnastics and shooting. He won the weightlifting gold medal, sharing the title with the Englishman Launceston Elliot, who had actually beaten him on the weights but had been inferior in the "aesthetic" side of the competition. In those days, athletes were also ranked according to style! Viggor Jensen also won third place in the shooting event over 300 metres with a military rifle.

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