Ole Olsen (speedway rider)

Ole Bjarne Olsen is a Danish former professional motorcycle speedway rider, born on 16 November 1946 in Haderslev. He won the Speedway World Championship three times, in 1971, 1975 and 1978, the World Long Track Championship in 1973, and the World Pairs Championship in 1979 with Hans Nielsen. He captained the Denmark teams that won the World Team Cup in 1978, 1981 and 1983. Taught to ride a speedway bike by his rival and friend Ivan Mauger, he rode in the British League for Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Coventry. His success helped popularize the sport in Denmark and led him to build the Vojens Speedway Center, which hosted the World Finals in 1988 and 1994. He was named an FIM Legend in 2015.