23 September 2017

At the 2017 IOC Session in Lima, FISA President Jean-Christophe Rolland was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Elected to the IOC was also Denis Oswald and Anita DeFrantz, the World Rowing Federation writes in a press release.

Jean-Christophe Rolland, 49, is one of the youngest International Federation presidents and he will now become one of the younger members of the IOC. Rolland, of France, has been the World Rowing Federation’s president since 2014. When he ran for FISA presidency, Rolland stated that one of his main goals was to keep rowing an Olympic sport. Rolland, an Olympic Champion in rowing from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, joins a number of IOC members who are former rowers.

‘I feel honoured to be part of such a prestigious organisation,’ said Rolland. ‘I would very much like to thank all of those who trusted me and supported me to become an IOC member. It is a great responsibility to continue to serve the Olympic Movement and the sport of rowing.’

Along with Rolland, the IOC also elected former vice-president of FISA, Anita DeFrantz as an IOC vice-president. DeFrantz, of USA, rowed at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games – the first time women were rowing at the Olympic Games. She has held the IOC vice president position before, from 1997 to 2001.

Former FISA president Denis Oswald was voted in as a member of the IOC executive board. Oswald, from Switzerland, competed as a rower at three Olympic Games, in 1968, 1972 and 1976. He was FISA president from 1989 until 2014 when Rolland was elected president.

‘I am also very happy with the election of Anita DeFrantz as vice president and Denis Oswald as member of the executive board, said Rolland. ‘Rowing is well represented in the Olympic Movement and we know that this is important for our sport.’