The Danes may have got off to a slow start at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but the medals are trickling in now at a steady pace.
On Saturday Pernille Blume and the women’s 4×100 medley team won Denmark’s first gold and a bronze, and in yesterday’s action it was Mark O Madsen’s turn to live up to steep expectations in the men’s wrestling.
And that’s exactly what the Danish grappler did, battling his way to a silver medal in the Greco-Roman 75kg event.
Madsen overcame competition from Iran, Serbia and Hungary to reach the final, where the indomitable Russian wrestler Roman Vlasov waited. Madsen had never beaten the defending champion before, and that wasn’t about to change as Vlasov eased to a comfortable win.
Madsen’s silver gives Denmark seven medals, just three off their lofty double-digit pre-tournament expectations, and several more look to be in the mail.
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Record breaker
Lasse Norman Hansen could be one. The Danish cyclist got off to a scintillating start to the omnium, winning the first two events, breaking Mark Cavendish’s Olympic record in the individual pursuit. But a last-place finish in the elimination race sees him sit sixth overall ahead of the last three events today.
Badminton could also offer up a medal with the two men’s singles players, Viktor Axelsen and Jan Ø Jørgensen, both making it through to the last 16, where the opposition today will be Indian and Irish.
And sailor Anne-Marie Rindom will be aiming for gold in the laser radial medal race today, which is worth double points to the final standings. She currently occupies the silver position and will need to finish five places ahead of rival Marit Bouwmeester. Finish outside the top five and she could end up without a medal.
