{{Short description|Danish sport shooter (1889–1969)}} {{For|other people with the same name|Niels Larsen (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Niels Larsen | image = Niels Larsen 1945b.jpg | image_size = | caption = Larsen with a shotgun produced by his company in 1945 | birth_name = | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date|1889|11|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = Horsens, Denmark | death_date = {{death date and age|1969|11|15|1889|11|21|df=yes}} | death_place = Syddanmark, Denmark | height = | weight = | website = | country = | sport = Sports shooting | club = Otterup | event = Rifle, pistol | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{DEN}} }} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalBronze| 1912 Stockholm | 300 m free rifle,<br> three positions}} {{MedalBronze|1912 Stockholm | Team free rifle}} {{MedalGold| 1920 Antwerp | Team 300 m military<br> rifle, standing}} {{MedalSilver|1920 Antwerp| 300 m free rifle,<br> three positions}} {{MedalBronze| 1924 Paris | 600 metre free rifle}} | show-medals = yes }}
'''Niels Hansen Ditlev Larsen''' (21 November 1889 – 15 November 1969) was a Danish sport shooter and rifle manufacturer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/41784 |title=Niels Larsen |work=Olympedia |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> He competed in various rifle and pistol events in the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics and won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, becoming the most successful Danish Olympic shooter.<ref name=bio/><ref name=sr/>
==Biography== Larsen took up shooting early, and was training in a city club by the age of 14. His talent was noticed by Hans Schultz, an Olympic shooter who owned a guns workshop in Otterup. Schultz hired Larsen in 1910; in 1912 they competed together in the Stockholm Olympics, in 1917 became business partners, and in 1919 expanded the Schultz's workshop into the Schultz & Larsen factory. Earlier in 1916 Larsen married Schultz's daughter Ellen.<ref name=bio2/> Their son Uffe Schultz Larsen also became an Olympic shooter and worked for Schultz & Larsen.<ref name=bio/>
==Olympic results== ;1912 Stockholm
In 1912 Larsen won the bronze medal in the 300 metre free rifle, three positions event and also with the Danish team in the team free rifle competition. He also participated in the following events:<ref name=sr/>
* Team military rifle – eighth place * 50 metre pistol – 41st place * 300 metre military rifle, three positions – 63rd place
;1920 Antwerp
Eight years later Larsen won the gold medal as member of the Danish team in the team 300 metre military rifle, standing event and the silver medal in the 300 metre free rifle, three positions competition. He also participated in the following events:<ref name=sr/>
* 50 metre free pistol – fifth place * Team free rifle – fifth place * Team 50 metre free pistol – eighth place * Team 300 metre military rifle, prone – 13th place * 300 metre military rifle, standing – place unknown * 300 metre military rifle, prone – result unknown * 600 metre military rifle, prone – result unknown
;1924 Paris
In 1924 Larsen won the bronze medal in the 600 metre free rifle competition and finished sixth with the Danish team in the team free rifle event.<ref name=sr/>
==References== {{Commons category|Niels Larsen}} <references>
<ref name=sr>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417203847/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/la/niels-larsen-1.html Niels Larsen]. sports-reference</ref> <ref name=bio>[http://horsensidraetsarkiv.dk/horsens-laerling-blev-danmarks-mest-vindende-ol-skytte Horsens-lærling blev Danmarks mest vindende OL-skytte]. Horsens Idrætsarkiv</ref> <ref name=bio2>Margit Egdal. [http://www.nordfynsk.dk/Programmer/Otterup_gevaerfabrik/gevaerfabrikken-nordfynsk-okt2010.pdf Otterup Geværfabrik 1889–1994]. nordfynsk.dk</ref>
</references>
==External links== *{{ISSF}} *{{Olympics.com profile}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Larsen, Niels}} Category:1889 births Category:1969 deaths Category:Danish male sport shooters Category:ISSF rifle shooters Category:ISSF pistol shooters Category:Olympic shooters for Denmark Category:Shooters at the 1912 Summer Olympics Category:Shooters at the 1920 Summer Olympics Category:Shooters at the 1924 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for Denmark Category:Olympic silver medalists for Denmark Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Denmark Category:Olympic medalists in shooting Category:Medalists at the 1912 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1920 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Horsens Category:Sport shooters from the Central Denmark Region