Vic Olsson
New Zealand rower (1903–1990)
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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.
28 August 1903
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Andre Victor Olsson 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
Rowing
A 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
Olsson died on 3 July 1990, and he was buried at Picton Cemetery.[11]
