Hansen was born in Gisborne in 1934[1] and grew up in Hexton near Gisborne. His parents were Ruie and Eva Hansen, and he had three siblings. His father was riding in the cavalry in WWI and all four children developed into skilled equestrians.[2] Graeme started riding aged five; it was his transport to get to Mangapapa Primary School. He then attended Gisborne Intermediate and King's College in Auckland.[3] His nickname "Hec" referred to the most prominent jockey of the time, Hector Gray.[2]
Hansen started competing internationally in 1959. His uncle gave him a horse, Saba Sam, which his uncle considered not good enough for track racing, but it turned out to be an excellent show jumper. In 1964, Graeme Hansen and his elder brother Bruce Hansen made the first New Zealand equestrian team that was sent to the Tokyo Olympics. At the team jumping event captained by Bruce Hansen, they came in tenth place. In the individual jumping event he came twenty-third on Saba Sam.[4] Graeme Hansen was New Zealand Olympian number 179.[1] Both Hansen brothers retired from international competitions in 1968.[2] Hansen was also competing in track racing and went horse hunting.[3] He became an international horse jumping judge and was sought after to speak at judging seminars.[2]
Hansen last went horse hunting three weeks before his death.[3] He died, after a short illness, in late August 2007. He was survived by his wife and three children.[2] In 2013, Hansen was posthumously inducted into the Tairawhiti Hall of Fame.[3] In March 2020, the entire 1964 Olympic equestrian team of four riders (including Charlie Matthews, who as reserve did not get to compete) was inducted into the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Hall of Fame.[5]
^ abcdeDobson, Diana (11 September 2007). "NZ showjumping great Graeme Hansen – Obituary". Horsetalk. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
^ abcd"Graeme Hansen – Tairawhiti Legend of Sport". Sport Gisborne. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
^"Gisborne trio inducted into Equestrian Sports Hall of Fame". Gisborne Herald. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
graeme, hansen, graeme, otto, hansen, march, 1934, august, 2007, also, known, hansen, zealand, equestrian, personal, informationfull, namegraeme, otto, hansennationalitynew, zealandborn, 1934, march, 1934gisborne, zealanddied22, august, 2007, 2007, aged, sport. Graeme Otto Hansen 20 March 1934 22 August 2007 also known as Hec Hansen was a New Zealand equestrian Graeme HansenPersonal informationFull nameGraeme Otto HansenNationalityNew ZealandBorn 1934 03 20 20 March 1934Gisborne New ZealandDied22 August 2007 2007 08 22 aged 73 SportSportEquestrianCareer EditHansen was born in Gisborne in 1934 1 and grew up in Hexton near Gisborne His parents were Ruie and Eva Hansen and he had three siblings His father was riding in the cavalry in WWI and all four children developed into skilled equestrians 2 Graeme started riding aged five it was his transport to get to Mangapapa Primary School He then attended Gisborne Intermediate and King s College in Auckland 3 His nickname Hec referred to the most prominent jockey of the time Hector Gray 2 Hansen started competing internationally in 1959 His uncle gave him a horse Saba Sam which his uncle considered not good enough for track racing but it turned out to be an excellent show jumper In 1964 Graeme Hansen and his elder brother Bruce Hansen made the first New Zealand equestrian team that was sent to the Tokyo Olympics At the team jumping event captained by Bruce Hansen they came in tenth place In the individual jumping event he came twenty third on Saba Sam 4 Graeme Hansen was New Zealand Olympian number 179 1 Both Hansen brothers retired from international competitions in 1968 2 Hansen was also competing in track racing and went horse hunting 3 He became an international horse jumping judge and was sought after to speak at judging seminars 2 Hansen last went horse hunting three weeks before his death 3 He died after a short illness in late August 2007 He was survived by his wife and three children 2 In 2013 Hansen was posthumously inducted into the Tairawhiti Hall of Fame 3 In March 2020 the entire 1964 Olympic equestrian team of four riders including Charlie Matthews who as reserve did not get to compete was inducted into the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Hall of Fame 5 References Edit a b Graeme Hansen New Zealand Olympic Committee Retrieved 24 April 2020 a b c d e Dobson Diana 11 September 2007 NZ showjumping great Graeme Hansen Obituary Horsetalk Retrieved 24 April 2020 a b c d Graeme Hansen Tairawhiti Legend of Sport Sport Gisborne Retrieved 25 April 2020 Evans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Graeme Hansen Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on 18 April 2020 Retrieved 24 April 2020 Gisborne trio inducted into Equestrian Sports Hall of Fame Gisborne Herald 16 March 2020 Retrieved 24 April 2020 External links EditGraeme Hansen at Olympedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Graeme Hansen amp oldid 1156618474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
