Clara Tauson is one of Denmark’s biggest sports stars right now – but far from the only one. In recent years Danish athletes have won the world’s biggest bike race, played in a Champions League final and beaten the best tennis players in the world. Here is a short portrait of three of them: footballer Christian Eriksen, cyclist Jonas Vingegaard and tennis player Holger Rune. The information is as of 25 October 2026.
Christian Eriksen – Denmark’s most-capped footballer
Christian Dannemann Eriksen was born on 14 February 1992 in Middelfart and grew up at the local club Middelfart G&BK, where his father Thomas was a youth coach. After three years at OB he moved to Ajax in Amsterdam in 2008, aged 16, and won three Dutch titles there. Tottenham Hotspur, Inter, Brentford, Manchester United and VfL Wolfsburg followed.
Career highlights
- Started the 2019 Champions League final for Tottenham.
- Won Serie A with Inter in 2020-21 and the FA Cup with Manchester United in 2023-24.
- Denmark’s most-capped men’s player with 151 caps and 46 goals – he took the record from Simon Kjær at Euro 2024.
- Has played six major tournaments for Denmark, more than any other Dane.
The 2021 cardiac arrest and the comeback
On 12 June 2021 Eriksen collapsed just before half-time in Denmark’s Euro match against Finland in Copenhagen and suffered a cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated on the pitch and later fitted with an ICD (a small implanted defibrillator). He came back with Brentford in February 2022 and scored for Denmark again a month later. In 2023 he received the Laureus Comeback of the Year award.
Status in 2026
On 7 June 2026 Eriksen had to leave the pitch in a friendly against Ukraine in Odense after his ICD delivered a shock. He walked off by himself and has said it was a different situation from 2021. He has not played since. On 23 September 2026 he and VfL Wolfsburg ended his contract by mutual consent so that he can be close to his family in Denmark. He has not announced anything about his future.
Jonas Vingegaard – from the fish factory to the Tour de France
Jonas Vingegaard was born on 10 December 1996 in Hillerslev in the Thy region. As a young rider with ColoQuick he worked mornings at a fish factory in Hanstholm before he signed a professional contract with the Dutch team now called Visma | Lease a Bike. His contract runs until the end of 2028.
Wins in all three Grand Tours
- Won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 – in 2023 with a time trial to Combloux that is regarded as one of the best in the race’s history.
- Won the Vuelta a España in 2025.
- Won the 2026 Giro d’Italia with five stage wins, becoming the eighth rider ever and the first Dane to win all three Grand Tours.
At the 2026 Tour de France Vingegaard was second overall when he crashed on stage 15 and broke his collarbone. His team announced in August that he would not race again in 2026. He lives with his family near Glyngøre in northern Jutland.
Holger Rune – Denmark’s best male tennis player
Holger Vitus Nødskov Rune was born on 29 April 2003 in Gentofte and grew up in Charlottenlund – the same corner of North Zealand as Clara Tauson. The two have known each other since childhood, won the Danish U12 mixed doubles title together in 2014 and played the Hopman Cup for Denmark in 2023. Read more about Clara Tauson and Holger Rune.
Titles and ranking
- Won the boys’ French Open in 2019 – the same year Clara Tauson won the girls’ Australian Open.
- Has won five ATP titles, including the 2022 Paris Masters, where he beat five top-10 players and Novak Djokovic in the final.
- Was world No. 4 on 21 August 2023 – the highest ranking ever for a Danish man.
The Achilles injury and the comeback
In October 2025 Rune ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the Stockholm semi-final. After almost a year out he returned in the Davis Cup in September 2026 and now enters tournaments on a protected ranking. As of 25 October 2026 he was entered at the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the Paris Masters.
What do they have in common with Clara Tauson?
All four showed their talent early. Tauson and Rune each won a junior Grand Slam in 2019, Eriksen made his Denmark debut at 18, and Vingegaard was not yet 26 when he won his first Tour de France. Injuries and health have also played a big part: Tauson ended her 2026 season in October because of injuries, Vingegaard broke his collarbone at the Tour, Rune came back from his Achilles injury and Eriksen fought his way back after his cardiac arrest. To follow Clara Tauson’s road back, see when she plays again and her career year by year.
Questions about Danish sports stars
Who are the biggest Danish sports stars right now?
Among the best known are cyclist Jonas Vingegaard, who has won the Tour de France twice, the Vuelta and the Giro d’Italia, footballer Christian Eriksen with the record for most Denmark caps, and tennis players Holger Rune and Clara Tauson. This is a selection, not a ranking.
Is Christian Eriksen still playing football?
Eriksen has not played since 7 June 2026, and his contract with VfL Wolfsburg was ended on 23 September 2026. As of 25 October 2026 he has not announced anything about his future.
How many times has Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France?
Twice – in 2022 and 2023. He has also won the 2025 Vuelta and the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
Are Holger Rune and Clara Tauson a couple?
No. They are childhood friends and former mixed-doubles partners. Clara Tauson’s boyfriend is Kasper Elsvad, who is also her coach.