Karen Harup

Karen Harup, whose full name was Karen Margrethe Harup Petersen, was a Danish swimmer, born on 20 November 1924 and died on 9 July 2009. At the 1948 Summer Olympics she competed in four events and won three medals: gold in the 100 m backstroke and silver in the 400 m and 4 by 100 m freestyle, placing fourth in the 100 m freestyle. She won three more gold medals at the 1947 European Championships, held 30 national titles during her career and set two world records in freestyle relay events. She retired from competition in 1949 and began a swimming coaching career lasting five decades, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975.