Olaf Tufte, the Norwegian rower who competed at seven Olympic Games, has died at the age of 50, his family announced. Tufte was one of the most decorated and enduring athletes in the sport, remaining competitive at the highest level over an unusually long career that spanned two decades.

Tufte made his Olympic debut in 1996 at the Atlanta Games, initially competing in the men's coxless four before switching to single and double sculls, where he enjoyed his greatest success, winning two Olympic gold medals for Norway. His death was confirmed by his family on Tuesday, though the cause has not been disclosed.