Paul Bert Elvstrøm (born February 25, 1928) is a yachtsman. He was born in Copenhagen in Denmark. February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... City nickname: none Location in Denmark Area  - Total  - Water 526 km² xxx km² xx% Population  - City ( 2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density 502,204 1,116,979 954/km² [including water] xxx/km² [land only] Time zone Eastern: UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 55°43 N 12°34 W Copenhagen ( Danish: København) is... The Kingdom of Denmark is geographically the smallest Nordic country and is part of the European Union. ...

He has won the world championships 15 times in eight different types of boat, including Soling, Starboat, Flying Dutchman and Finn. A Star (or Starboat) is a 6. ... Flying Dutchman has several meanings: The Flying Dutchman is a legend about a ghost ship said to ply the waters near the Cape of Good Hope. ... A Finn is a single-handed Olympic class of sailing dinghy. ...

He competed in eight Olympic Games from 1948 to 1988, being one of only three persons ever (the others are athletes Carl Lewis in the long jump and Al Oerter in the discus) to win four consecutive gold medals ('48, '52, '56, '60), first time in a Firefly, subsequently in Finns. For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Frederick Carlton Carl Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American athlete. ... Alfred Adolf Al Oerter, Jr. ...

Elvstrøm has also made a name of himself as developer of sails and sailing equipment and built boats, e.g. the Trapeze.

One of his most successful inventions was the Self-Bailer. This was a device set into the underwater section of the hull and in the event of a capsize could be lowered and the suction generated by the water flow sucked out the water remaining in the cockpit of the dinghy after it was righted and sailing again. This device is extensively used in racing dinghies which do not have a self draining cockpit.

Paul also revolutionised dinghy sailing by pioneering the technique of 'hiking' also known as 'sitting out'. He was the first to fix straps, known as 'toe-spraps' in the bottom of his dinghy. He could then hook his feet underneath the straps to enable him to get all his body weight, from the knees upwards, outside the boat which provided significant leverage to enable the boat to remain level in stronger winds and hence go faster than his competitors. This technique required significant fitness. Paul's built a training bench with toe-straps in his garage to replicate the sitting out position in his dinghy. He then proceeded to spend many training hours on dry land sitting out on the bench at home! This technique revolutionised dingy racing and quickly became the norm in all dinghy classes.

He has also been the father of several international yacht racing rules.

In 1996 he was chosen as "Danish Sportsman of the Century." 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...