Vic Olsson

Vic Olsson

Personal information
Birth name	Andre Victor Olsson
Born	(1903-08-28)28 August 1903 Picton, New Zealand
Died	3 July 1990(1990-07-03) (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 Men's rowing Representing  New Zealand British Empire Games 1930 Hamilton Eights 1930 Hamilton Coxless Fours

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.

Early life and family

Born in Picton on 28 August 1903, Olsson was the son of Victor Olsson and Christina Olsson (née McKay).[3] He married Ivy Ethel Julia Chapman on 31 January 1935.[4]

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]

References

1. Electoral district of Wairau: general roll of persons entitled to vote for Members of Parliament in New Zealand. 1935. p. 130.
2. "For Empire Games: the oarsmen to get their big opportunity". NZ Truth. 10 April 1930. p. 17. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
3. "Birth index: registration number 1903/11299". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
4. "Marriage index: registration number 1935/8151". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
5. "New Zealand's Olympic eights history". New Zealand Herald. 7 August 2015. p. B06.
6. "Victor Olsson". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
7. "Rowing". Evening Post. 18 October 1930. p. 22. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
8. "Eight-oar rowing". New Zealand Herald. 28 March 1932. p. 11. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
9. "Olympic Games: New Zealand team". The Press. 13 April 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
10. "Olympic Games: New Zealand rowing crew". Northern Advocate. 17 May 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
11. "Cemetery records search". Marlborough District Council. Retrieved 30 May 2017.