The Olympic athlete’s Omega that keeps on giving

Kristian Haagen

The Olympic Games are not for everyone. Let’s face it – competing at that level requires immense physical and mental strength, not only during the events themselves but also in the years of rigorous training leading up to them. The financial burden of preparing for the Olympics is significant for many athletes. Training costs, whether for a personal trainer, mental coach, or the sacrifice of steady employment, can be overwhelming. This brings us to a particular Omega Speedmaster Mark II “Rio 2016” with a special Olympic connection. The story begins in 2015 when Danish paddler René Holten Poulsen was preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Already a fan of Omega, the official timekeeper of the Games since 1932, Poulsen knew he wanted a watch from the brand to commemorate his Olympic journey.

He visited the local retailer, Klarlund, hoping to purchase the watch but found it unavailable. Despite this, Omega’s CEO, Raynald Aeschlimann, noticed Poulsen’s interest and arranged a special delivery through Klarlund. Poulsen recalls meeting Aeschlimann at the Omega hospitality house in Rio, where the CEO recognised the watch on his wrist even before it was fully visible. “Raynald pointed at my watch and said, ‘I remember that watch,’ and smiled at me. He’s such a cool guy,” Poulsen reminisces.

Holten Poulsen is no stranger to medals, having won at least one European Championship medal every year since 2008. He has also competed in the Olympics in 2008, 2012, and 2016. However, the 2024 Olympics presented a different challenge.

In 2022, the Danish Canoe & Kayak Federation dropped him from the elite centre due to his age, forcing him to self-fund his training, everything from training programs and training camps to collecting sponsors and support for his campaign. As a result, Poulsen had to sell the Omega watch he had bought for the 2016 Olympics.

A Danish watch collector, Rolf Momberg, noticed Poulsen was selling his Omega Speedmaster and purchased it for DKK 27,000 (approximately US$4,000), below market value. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approached, Momberg considered selling the watch for a profit due to its Olympic provenance. However, he reconsidered when he saw that Poulsen had started a GoFundMe campaign to finance his participation in the Games.

Considering the strong provenance, Momberg considered a sale of the Omega Speedmaster: “Competing at the Paris Olympics this year was a comeback story in a way. I thought it was pretty damn exciting. And then one day, I’m talking to my wife, telling her that I don’t think I can sell this watch for money.” Instead of selling the Omega Speedmaster, Momberg decided to rally fellow watch collectors to raise money to buy it back and return it to Poulsen. This honoured his dedication and determination to compete in the Olympics despite the lack of support from his federation.

“The rally started slow,” Momberg recalls, “but after four days, we managed to raise DKK 20,000 (around US$3,000), so I decided to contribute the remaining DKK 7,000 (about US$600) myself.” Despite the financial outlay, Momberg doesn’t see it as a loss. Instead, he views the watch as a powerful symbol of a man’s relentless pursuit of his dreams. “That’s why it must be returned to him,” he asserts. “And it’s not just from me, but from many watch enthusiasts who share the same sentiment.”

On August 22nd, Poulsen arrived at a casual gathering in Copenhagen with his girlfriend, infant son, and two dogs. Despite his statuesque, almost superhuman physique, Poulsen exuded a warmth and approachability that belied his imposing presence. As he removed his smartwatch and replaced it with the Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio 2016, a broad smile spread across his face.

“It fits perfectly,” he said, admiring the watch, seemingly oblivious that the time was several hours off. “It feels good to have it on my wrist again. I’ve missed it. It’s like being made whole again,” Poulsen confessed. I spoke with Poulsen the day after the handover to ask how it felt. “It feels just right,” he said. “But now it holds even greater significance than when I bought it in 2015. It’s a reminder of the tough battle I’ve been through.”

A watch is a watch. An Omega is an Omega. However, an Omega Speedmaster Mark II Rio 2016 like this one proves that watches bring people together. It illustrates how timepieces can unite people. Rolf Momberg’s thoughtful gesture toward its former owner highlights how these pieces can evoke deep emotions and forge lasting connections.

Admittedly, seeing René Holten Poulsen wear his Omega Speedmaster again is even more satisfying than watching the podium winners bite their medals at this year’s Olympics.