24 July 2026

By Göran R Buckhorn

Yesterday evening, Horten Roklubb, in the coastal town of Horten on the western shore of Oslofjord, south of Oslo, held a ceremony in memory of the club’s legendary member, the sculling star Olaf Tufte, who sadly passed away on 21 July at age 50. The celebration was open to everyone to attend, not just club members.

The club had originally planned on having a one-minute of silence, to his honour. But they quite rightly opted for a one-minute of applause instead.

Speeches were held, and one of the speakers said that it was at Horten Roklubb Olaf first sat in a rowing boat at age 17 when he was asked to fill a vacant seat in a quadruple scull. Olaf had a back injury at the time, due to an injury from motor sport, which he was competing in at the time. His doctor had told him that rowing might help in his recovery, and the rest is history.

We all remember how Norway “rowed” its way to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Football this summer. Just a few days ago, Tufte appeared on national television, seated firmly on a rowing machine as only an Olympic champion could, gently and charismatically instructing the entire nation, rowers and non-rowers, on how to improve their strokes.

He has left marks that will live on for generations.

Editor’s Note: The funeral will be held in Horten Church on Friday 31 July at noon.