Rasmus Henning’s happy home

The winner of several of triathlon’s biggest purses and current contender for its most hallowed prize retains strong Danish values of modesty, thrift and a reverence for a loving family life. Henning balances in very equal measure a world class athletic career with time to nurture two rambunctious girls and appreciate his lovely and intelligent wife Anita. And until their new house is built, the Hennings manage to find just enough room for their bursting-with-life children to grow, for Anita’s kitchen and office for her teaching career, and to store Rasmus’ copious triathlon gear in a semi-orderly fashion.

Somehow, in this lovingly crafted rental home made of warm wood with airy skylights, painted in subtle, warm Scandinavian colors, adorned with bright paintings by Danish artists hung side by side with the girls’ cheery early works, the triathlon star finds peace apart from his rugged training.

This enclave of rental housing is in many ways characteristic of Denmark’s national values. The Hennings and their neighbors save energy, shop for organic food at a local co-op, and make do with more thinking and less profligate use of space. A friend made a joke that if Henning had returned home with the gas-guzzling Hummer awarded to the Hy-Vee champion in 2007 (he politely declined, citing Denmark’s stiff tax on fuel-inefficient vehicles) it might have been the target of eco-protesters.

Henning and his family have enjoyed the close contact with their idealistic neighbors. “We enjoy sharing our lives with the people here,” said Rasmus. “More than what you see in most streets and neighborhoods. We eat together in our community house as often as each family likes to, and our front doors are usually open so that kids and adults alike jump in and out casually, although we still have our individual houses and are allowed to lock the doors when we need.

“We have made some great friends here. Since we spend a lot to time together, they obviously follow my career, but to tell you the truth they are more interested in how I do as a husband and father than as an athlete. This is actually quite nice.”

All images © Timothy Carlson

Rasmus Henning welcomes a visitor to his small but elegantly crafted home in an ecologically conscious Danish community in the small town of BirkerØd, about 30 kilometers north of Copenhagen.

Rasmus and Anita Henning with their soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter Caroline, who was serving as a finish line balloon girl at the inaugural Challenge Copenhagen.

Anita holds 3 ½ year-old Emilie in her lap for a post-dinner chat.

With typical Danish economy of space, Rasmus fits his large quiver of racing bikes and gear in what amounts to a space capsule in the basement.

Rasmus smiles while his irrepressibly exuberant daughter Caroline plays in a small shower/sink/office nook of the basement.

Caroline (left) and Emilie (right) climb to the top of their imaginary castle in their double-decker bunk beds.

Rasmus helps young Emilie safely join her sister Caroline jump on their parents’ bed.

Caroline laughs as she holds up a tiny stuffed animal.

The trophy room? Rasmus’s 2009 Ironman China award makes do with a spot atop a dresser in the copacetic chaos of the basement. Plans for the Hennings’ new home include a garage – of which Rasmus will have complete charge.

Caroline with the bicycle which she would ride in the Junior Challenge race. “A friend wrote on my Facebook that I should make sure that she finishes with a smile on her face — and she did,” says Rasmus. “This was my main criteria of success. So she was happy and I was very proud.”

Anita is an extraordinarily accomplished cook and has organized her compact kitchen with loving precision.

Anita says “Rasmus wants to help, but the kitchen is my space and I’d prefer he stay out of the way.” Here she prepares a classic Danish meal of Medister sausage, cabbage stew, green bean/bacon salad and boiled potatoes.

Anita and Rasmus, Caroline and Emilie welcome agent Brian Martin Rasmussen and a U.S. visitor to enjoy a delicious, healthy Danish meal and lively, warm conversation.

Rasmus plays Emilie’s favorite request, “Marienhoven Evigglad” (the ever happy ladybird) and the young prodigy pitches in a few notes.

Henning plays a few of his favorite tunes for the visitor in the upstairs den which is well lit by a well crafted triple skylight.

Rasmus reads a book with old Danish rhymes an proverbs. “Most of them are very old, so both mine and even my parents’ generation grew up learning them,” he says. “The children like the fact that they are short and have rhythm, plus the drawings are funny.”

Rasmus plays pat-a-cake with Caroline after dessert.

While modest about his accomplishments, Rasmus DID save two large cardboard versions of his big Hy-Vee checks. After he and his agent held them up for inspection, they promptly slid them back out of view.

Rasmus examines plans for the Henning dream house which should at least double their current space.

Portrait of a happy family in their skylight lit Denmark den.