Danish writer Peter Sloth lists Denmark's top ten sports stars

Danish boxing writer Peter Sloth says Mikkel Kessler is the biggest athlete in his country - but who comes close to matching the Viking Warrior in the popularity stakes? Here's his rundown of the top 10 sports stars in Denmark...

5. Nicki Pedersen, Speedway

The three time World Champion is a great star because he had the ability to make Denmark a real Speedway power nation again, ten years after Denmark ruled the Speedway world for more than a decade from mid-1970's to the early 1990's. With his very frivolous personal style he has a huge fan base.

6. Jeanette Ottesen Gray, Swimming

The 25-year-old swimmer is a several-time European and world champion - and she's good looking too! Unfortunately she didn't manage to live up to the huge expectations at the 2012 London Olympics where Denmark - despite dreams of one, two or even three medals in the swimming competitions - came home with zero medals.

7. Thomas Bjørn, Golf

The 42-year-old is by far the most successful Danish golfer ever. He's won 13 tournaments on the European Tour and was in 2003 extremely close to winning a major at the British Open. Sadly, when he had a solid lead on the fourth and final round, Bjørn ended up in the bunker on hole 16 and the title slipped out of the Dane's hands and ended up with young rookie Ben Curtis.

8. Christian Eriksen, Football

The three time Dutch champion with Ajax is the future of Danish football, according to many experts. The elegant midfielder is linked to a lot of European football giants and could leave Holland already this summer for a new adventure in maybe Manchester City or another Premier League side.

9. Mikkel Hansen, Handball

The handball sport is huge in Denmark and Hansen is the country's number one star. He's been awarded best handball player in the world and is making his - well paid - living in France with Paris. To all Englishmen who aren't totally updated to what handball is: imagine water polo without the water - there you have handball!

10. Tom Kristensen, Motorsport

He's the most successful Danish race driver ever having won the famous 24 hours race of Le Mans a record eight times, first time in 1997. In 2002 Kristensen was awarded Danish Athlete of the year after his record breaking three Le Mans wins in a row with the same two co-drivers.
Peter Sloth is a boxing reporter and sports writer for Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet