Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier
Danish fencer (1888–1965)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier (December 16, 1888 – December 23, 1965), was a Danish Olympic medalist, and world champion, fencer who fenced foil, épée, and saber.[1][2][3] He was given the Olympic Diploma of Merit during his career. He is also one of only five athletes who have competed in the Olympics over a span of 40 years.
December 16, 1888
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Danish | |||||||||||
| Born | Ivan Joseph Martin Osiier December 16, 1888 Copenhagen, Denmark | |||||||||||
| Died | December 23, 1965 (aged 77) Copenhagen, Denmark | |||||||||||
| Occupations | Surgeon, Physician | |||||||||||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||
| Spouse | Ellen Osiier | |||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||
| Sport | Fencing | |||||||||||
Medal record
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Personal life
Osiier was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and was Jewish.[4][5][6] His parents were Martin Moses Meyer Osiier (1861–1933) and Hanne Henriette Ruben (1865–1922).[7] He was married to Ellen Osiier, who became the first female Olympic fencing champion by winning the women's foil at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[8]
He attended the secondary school Borgerdydskolen (The School of Civic Virtue) in Copenhagen, and later studied medicine.[7] He was a surgeon at Garrison Hospital in Copenhagen in 1915–17.[7][9] He later served as a physician.[7] He was forced to flee Denmark during the Nazi occupation of Denmark due to his being Jewish, and went to Sweden where he worked at Saint Göran Hospital.[7][10]
Fencing career
Championships
At fencing competitions in Denmark, Osiier won 25 events between 1913 and 1929. In fencing competitions for Scandinavia, Osilier won 13 events between 1921 and 1933.[4][9]
Olympics
Osiier first competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics and continued to appear in consecutive Olympics up to the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1][4] During the 1912 Summer Olympics, Osiier finished in second during the épée event.[1][11][2] Osiier withdrew from the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Nazi Germany, as did Danish Jewish wrestler (and 1932 Olympic silver medalist) Abraham Kurland.[1][4][12]
He is one of only four athletes who have competed in the Olympics over a span of 40 years, along with sailors Magnus Konow, Paul Elvstrøm, Durward Knowles and showjumper Ian Millar.[13] Apart from competitions, Osiier worked for the Denmark Fencing Federation as their leader.[10] The Olympic Diploma of Merit was given to Osiier during his career.[1][4]
Hall of Fame
Osiier was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.[14][4]