Career

He also held three national titles in the 4×100 m sprint relay (1919-1920 and 1922) and five in team gymnastics events (between 1921 and 1927). He retired from sport shortly before the 1928 Olympics due to tuberculosis. He was an engineer by profession.

Achievements

• He competed in the pole vault at the 1920 and 1924 Olympics and won a silver medal in 1920, placing fourth in 1924. Petersen won the national pole vault title in 1920-1921, 1923 and 1925-1927 and improved the national record eight times from 3.69 m in 1919 to 4.03 m in 1925.