Nico Rienks to Receive Thomas Keller Medal

Thomas Keller Medal Logo
© FISA

? And the 2004 winner is??

Nico Rienks of the Netherlands became the eighteenth recipient of the Thomas Keller Medal for ?an outstanding career in rowing,? when FISA President Denis Oswald announced the award at the first World Cup in Poznan last weekend. Oswald said the list of nominees this year had been outstanding but a choice had to be made and Rienks's achievements stood out.

Rienks's international rowing career spanned five Olympic games and during that time he won medals in both sculling and sweep oar events. He has two Olympic gold medals to his name in the double and the eight and, along with the eight, Rienks still holds the World Best time in the event from the 1999 World Championships.

The Thomas Keller Medal has been established as the highest honour in the sport of rowing and is presented to recognise an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship.

Named after the late President of FISA, the medal was first awarded in 1990 to Alf Hansen of Norway with last year the honour going to Peter Antonie of Australia.

Rienks will be presented with the 18-carat gold award at the Lucerne World Cup on Sunday 20^th June.