Olaf Tufte died of acute cardiac arrest

On Tuesday came the news that the Olympic champion in rowing, Olaf Tufte, has died. Now the family states that he died of acute cardiac arrest. GOLD: Olaf Tufte was considered Norway's best ever rower and one of the country's most influential athletes.

Norway's rowing legend, Olaf Tufte, has passed away - aged just 50. In a press release sent out on Wednesday, the family states the cause of death of the former Olympic champion. - Olaf Tufte died of an acute cardiac arrest, and the family is awaiting final answers from the autopsy, Rikshospitalet states in the press release. The family states that they will not make further comments related to the medical conditions, but take the opportunity to thank them for their support: - The family would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has shown patience and understanding related to the question of cause of death.

In a press release on Tuesday, the family stated that the former rower was found unconscious at Tufte Gård at 3pm on Monday. There were no witnesses to the incident and there was also no suspicion of an occupational accident, the report continued. Tufte received life-saving first aid on the spot and was then flown to Rikshospitalet.

On Tuesday 21 July he was pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife Aina Tufte and their two children. CELEBRATING: That was how Norwegians were used to seeing Olaf Tufte - on the podium.

It was a shock, and it is difficult to take in what has happened. First and foremost, I think of my wife and children, and the rest of the family, says Therese Johaug. The cross-country star says that the rowing legend has been a great role model throughout her career.

He has shown that hard work pays off in the long term. He will be missed throughout sports Norway. Therese Johaug describes the death of Olaf Tufte as a shock, and singles out the acting legend as one of her biggest role models.

Alongside life as a farmer and reality show participant, Tufte was very active in the rowing community. - Last Friday, he was a coach for our young and promising athletes, who will represent Norway in Europe. He had a proper chat with them after the session - the fact that he stands up for something like this is absolutely fantastic, said the president of the Norwegian Rowing Association, Frank Ove Reite.

On Thursday, Tufte will be honored by his parent club, Horten Roklubb. There he will be remembered with a minute's applause and a joint rowing trip on the water. How the funeral will take place is still unknown.

We still do not know anything about burial, it is too early to say, says spokesperson for the family, Per Eftang to NRK. SMILING: Tufte was known for his good and positive mood. Here in connection with a press meeting in 2022. Tufte started rowing as a 17-year-old when he joined the Horten Rowing Club.

The following year, he already participated in his first junior WC. Tufte is the first Norwegian to have participated in seven different Olympics. two gold, one silver and one bronze.

Olaf Tufte is the best Norwegian rower of all time. The way he came back after adversity and won his second straight Olympic gold in the 1000 meters in Beijing in 2008 is one of the most powerful single achievements in Norwegian sports history, said NRK's ​​sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt.