Stefanie Fryland Clausen became the champion in the Plain High Dive for women from 5 meter and 10 meter platform at the Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium on August 28, 1920 and was thus the first Danish woman to win gold at the Olympic Games. Indeed, the first Dane individually, as the Danish Gold medal winners previously were as teams.
Stefanie Fryland Clausen
The first Danish Woman to Win Olympic Gold
With her performance, she made Danish women visible in sport as well as in the public arena in general. Thereby she contributed to change the view on women of her time, and with her extraordinary achievement she established herself as a pioneer in Danish history of sport and the history of women’s rights and empowerment.
Highlights
Diving Career & Achievements
1915
Competition Diver
Stefanie joined The Danish Women’s Sports Association (Da: Kvindelig Idrætsforening (KI))
1917
2nd in Danish Championship in Diving from 3-meter for Women
In 1917 at the first Danish Championships in Diving for women, Stefanie becomes second.
1918
Danish Champion
Stefanie becomes the winner of the Danish Championship in Diving from 3-meter for Women
1919
Championships in Diving from the Tower (5 & 10 meter)
Stefanie competed in several Danish and International tournaments.
1920
Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium
Stefanie won Olympic Gold in Plain High Diving from the 5 & 10 meter Platform.
1924
Retirement and Referee
Stefanie officially retired from competitive diving and was appointed Referee at Danish Tournaments
1982
The Stefanie Fryland Clausen Honorary Cup
“The Stefanie Fryland Clausen Honorary Cup” was presented to the winner of the Danish Championship in Platform Diving for Women in Aarhus 1982 after Stefanie’s death in 1981
1988
International Swimming Hall of Fame
Entitled “Honour Pioneer Diver”, Stefanie became a member in 1988 of the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, USA.
2016
Danish Swimming Federation - Hall of Fame
In April 2016, Stefanie Fryland Clausen became the 13th member of the Danish Swimming Federation (Dansk Svømme Union) Hall of Fame during the first Danish Swimming Awards.
Background
Pioneer
Growing up
Sports
Stefanie was born April 1, 1900. Her father Christian Lauritz Fryland Clausen and mother Mette Kathrine Pedersen had 4 children, whereas Stefanie was the second born. They lived in the area Vesterbro in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark, where the father had his business: Vesterbro Umbrella Factory.
Stefanie developed a keen interest in sports already when she was a child. Diving, swimming and gymnastics started early, but it was not until 1915, when she joined The Women’s Sports Association (Kvindelig Idrætsforening (KI) that she began practising on competition level, which quickly led to championships.
Training
Helgoland Swim Baths
Helgoland Swim Baths
First Achievements
At the turn of the 20th century, swimming and health baths became very popular in Denmark. There were no indoor public facilities until 1926. The public swim baths were outdoor and would be used summer as well as winter.
When the new Helgoland Swim Bath at the coast north of Copenhagen opened in 1913 it was the biggest in the Nordic Countries with a capacity of 2000 spectator. The outdoor facility had changing rooms, a restaurant and it had 7 closed swimming pools, one with spring-boards and a tower with the 5- and 10-meter platforms. Helgoland was the main swimming facility in Denmark until 1930 and where Stefanie would do all her practice.
In 1917 the first Danish Championships were held in springboard diving (3-meter). Stefanie became 2nd. The following year when she was now 18 years old, she won her first Danish Championship title, also from the 3-meter board. In 1919 she won several Danish and International tournaments in Diving from “The Tower” (5m and 10m).
- 1907Establishment of the first Danish swimming associations
The first official inaugurated swimming association in Denmark was the Danish Swimming and Lifeguard Association (DA: Dansk Svømme og Livredningsforbund). The year was 1907. Copenhagen Swimming Union (DA: Københavns Svømme Union (KSU)) was established in 1918.
- 1917First Danish Championship in Diving for Women
Danish Swimming and Lifeguard Association (DSLF) was the first to host The Danish Championship in Diving in 1917 before the establishment of Copenhagen Swimming Union (KSU) in 1918. Hence Stefanie competed in what was the pioneer competitions in the history of official Danish swimming.
- 1920First Danish Championship in Platform Diving for Women
The Danish Championship in Plain High Dive from 10 meter for women was not held until 1920. Until then the official diving championships were from the springboard (3-meter). Stefanie did compete in the first Danish Championships just before traveling to Antwerp for the Olympics. She became number 3.
- 1930Opening of the first public indoor swimming pool in Copenhagen with a 10 meter tower
Copenhagen Sportspark Swimming Pool (DA: Københavns Idrætspark Svømmehal) opened in 1930 and was the first public indoor swimming pool in Copenhagen with a 10 meter platform. Previously, all training had been outdoor and mainly at Helgoland Swim Baths.
Shield Maiden
Swimming through six inches of Ice
In preparation for the Olympics in 1920, she had to train the entire year at Helgoland, including the winter. This is when she by the Danish Viking Guild on Helgoland was honoured and ordained with the title “Shieldmaiden” * , as evidenced by her certificate of 29 February 1920, after having “shown being able to swim the statutory length through 6 inches of ice. ”
The Shield Maiden Certificate from the Danish Viking Guild (1920) with the following inscription:
As Stefanie Fryland Clausen according to the ancient laws now in her time of testing and learning has shown to possess the right skills to be included among our inner circle, as she has developed and hardened her body;
has shown she can swim the statutory length through 6 inches of ice;
has embodied the blood of the brotherhood into her veins and has shown courage to in the time of danger to stare it right in the eye; we now ordain you after assembling with the elders of the tribe to: Shield Maiden (Skjoldmø)Which we hereby hand you letter and seal. With the Honour and Strength of our Viking Guild
Helgoland 29th of February 1920
* ‘Shieldmaiden’ is the ancient name for the female Viking warriors
Commitment
Balancing Education, Work and Sports
Stefanie’s parents were not too fond of her interest in sports. Because she was taking her education in business and secretarial services, and at the same time she was working in his father’s company, Vesterbro Umbrella Factory, all her training had to take place from at 6-7 am in the morning and between 6-8 pm in the evening, in order for her to stay committed to her work and education.
It was 7 km cycling distance from Vesterbrogade 20, where the family lived, and where the company was located to Helgoland Swim Baths. However, in the summer the distance was twice as long, since the family had a summer cottage between Hvidovre and Brøndby Strand, south of Copenhagen.
“..great tasks fascinate me.. It is those, which give life its value and content.. “.
Stefanie Fryland Clausen
1920 Olympic Games
Antwerp – Belgium
The Olympic Games 1920
Antwerp, Belgium
After an interruption of eight years due to the First World War, the Olympic Games were resumed in 1920 in Antwerp Belgium, which had been severely bombarded during the war. To promote a strong message of peace, the Antwerp Olympic Games were the first to release the doves of peace and the first to use the official declaration of the Olympic Oath. It was also during the 1920 Games that the Olympic Flag was first introduced with its five rings symbolizing peace and union of the five continents.
Women at the Olympic Games
“I do not approve of the participation of women in public competitions`` (Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics)
Women only began competing in the Olympic Games in 1900 and only in a few selected categories. In 1920 this was tennis, art competitions, sailing, figure skating, swimming and diving.
In 1920, Denmark participated with 170 men and 4 women, whereas two women, including Stefanie, competed in diving and two women participated in tennis.
Gymnastics Team
The Precondition for Stefanie’s Participation in the Olympics
The Danish women’s gymnastics team did travel to Antwerp, however not to compete, but to perform. This is actually how Stefanie made it to the Olympics, as her involvement with the gymnastic team was a precondition for her participation in the diving competition.
Stefanie ended up not performing with the gymnastics team at the final demonstration, as the performance was the day before the Diving finale. It was a rule that no competitor was allowed to participate in other events the day before a competition.
Victory & Celebration
In Antwerp & Copenhagen
After the 1920 Olympics
Retirement & Referee
After becoming the Olympic Champion, Stefanie didn’t compete again.
Immediately after the Olympic Games, she went to Hamburg, Germany to study and later she went to the United States,
Upon her return to Denmark, she was appointed judge at diving competitions.
Stefanie remained active throughout her long life, especially within ‘Gymnastics with a Staff’ (Danish: Stav-gymnastik). She was appointed Instructor by Captain Jespersen himself, the founder of the principles, in order to, as she said in 1953:
..to meet the next 30 years with dignity, and then – to remain optimistic – to age with grace
``It is not the fame that matters. It is not what is genuinely satisfying. Instead what satisfies, is to advance; to reach the top through success and adversity. To overcome the difficulties is the greatest joy``
Stefanie Fryland Clausen
(B.T. 26 Feb 1953)
Information
About this Website & Contacts
About this Website
Authors & Material
This website has been developed by some of the descendants of Stefanie Fryland Clausen. The photographs are from her personal archives.
Thank you for your interest in the life and achievements of Stefanie Fryland Clausen.