Søren Marinus Jensen (5 May 1879 – 6 January 1965) was a Danish sport wrestler who competed in the 1906 Intercalated Games and the 1908 and

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad () and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 6 July and 22 July 1912. The opening ceremony was he ...

. He won medals at each Game; however, the gold medals he won at the 1906 Games are no longer considered to be Olympic medals. He remains Denmark's most successful wrestler at the Olympics. In addition, he was World Champion in 1905 and won multiple European championship silver medals.

Sporting career

Jensen first competed at the 1904 World Wrestling Championships, failing to finish in the top three of his weight category. Returning the following year, he was victorious in the heavyweight competition, taking the gold medal. It was the only occasion he won the world championship, although he did place third in 1910. He also placed second in the European championships on three occasions.

Olympics

He competed for Denmark at the 1906 Intercalated Games in the Greco-Roman heavyweight class and an open weight class for all Greco-Roman competitors. In the first round of the heavyweight class, he faced the Austrian wrestler Arnold, who he considered his greatest threat in the competition. After an hour of wrestling, Jensen emerged victorious. In the second round, he faced Ronti of the German team, who weighed in excess of 120 kilograms (264 lbs). Following a victory against the German, he faced and defeated the Belgian Debouis and then Bauer from Austria to win the gold medal in the heavyweight class, at which point King

George I of Greece George I ( Greek: Γεώργιος Α΄, romanized: ''Geórgios I''; 24 December 1845 – 18 March 1913) was King of Greece from 30 March 1863 until his assassination on 18 March 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was born in Copenhage ...

called out to him in congratulation. Following that gold medal, he competed once more in the open competition, winning that competition as well and a second gold medal. He competed at the following two Olympic Games, winning the bronze medal in the Greco-Roman super heavyweight event at the

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were originally schedu ...

and another bronze medal this time in the Greco-Roman heavyweight competition at the

. At the 1912 Games he made it to the deciding match to find out who would win the gold medal, against Finland's Yrjö Saarela. After three hours of wrestling in the open air, Jensen retired from exhaustion on a particularly hot day.

Legacy

Although he won Denmark's only wrestling gold medal at an Olympic Games, those Games are no longer considered to be a true Olympic Games and instead are referred to as the 1906 Intercalated Games. Including those medals at the 1906 Games, Jensen remains Denmark's most successful wrestler at the Olympics with his four medals.

References

;General * ;Specific

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jensen, Soren Marinus 1879 births 1965 deaths Olympic wrestlers for Denmark Wrestlers at the 1906 Intercalated Games Wrestlers at the 1908 Summer Olympics Wrestlers at the 1912 Summer Olympics Danish male sport wrestlers Olympic gold medalists for Denmark Olympic bronze medalists for Denmark Olympic medalists in wrestling Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Aarhus Medalists at the 1906 Intercalated Games