Birte Christoffersen (later Hanson, then Ekberg; 28 March 1924 – 23 February 2026) was a Danish-Swedish diver. She competed in the 3 m springboard and 10 m platform for Denmark at the 1948 Summer Olympics and for Sweden at the 1956 & 1960 Summer Olympics. She won a bronze medal in the platform in 1948 and finished in 8–12th place on other occasions.[1] From December 2025 until her death, she was the oldest known living Olympic medalist.[2]

Birte Christoffersen
Christoffersen circa 1960
Personal information
Born(1924-03-28)28 March 1924
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died23 February 2026(2026-02-23) (aged 101)
Limhamn, Sweden
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight56 kg (123 lb)
Sport
SportDiving
ClubKvindelig Idrætsforening, København;
Stockholms KK;
Malmö SS
Medal record
Representing  Denmark
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place1948 London10 m platform
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place1950 Vienna10 m platform
Bronze medal – third place1950 Vienna3 m springboard
Representing  Sweden
European Championships
Silver medal – second place1954 Turin10 m platform
Silver medal – second place1954 Turin3 m springboard
Bronze medal – third place1958 Budapest10 m platform

At the European championships Christoffersen won bronze medals in both the platform and springboard in 1950, competing for Denmark. In 1953 she moved to Sweden, and next year won silver medals in both events. She earned one more bronze medal in 1958, in the platform.[3]

Christoffersen turned 100 on 28 March 2024,[4] and died on 23 February 2026, at the age of 101.[5]

References

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  1. Birte Christoffersen. Sports Reference.com
  2. Tchir, Paul. "List of the Oldest Living Olympians". OlympStats. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  3. Birte Hanson Ekberg. Swedish Olympic Committee
  4. Tchir, Paul (28 March 2024). "Birte Christoffersen-Hanson and Stoyanka Angelova". OlympStats. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  5. "Birte Ekberg". Ratsit (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
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