Rowers Nominated for IOC Athletes' Commission

Three rowers have been chosen as candidates for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. Great Britain’s Matthew Pinsent, Michiel Bartman of the Netherlands and Denmark’s Victor Feddersen are part of a group of 32 current and former Olympic athletes who will be elected by athletes at this year’s Olympic Games. The successful candidates will become members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission – the voice for athletes at the IOC.

The high calibre of rowers stands prominently alongside nominated athletes from a mixture of Olympic sports. Current IOC member, Matthew Pinsent is up for re-election. Pinsent’s golden rowing record continues as he aims for his fourth Olympic Games already having collected three Olympic gold medals and 10 World Championship titles along the way. From 1991 to 1996 Pinsent, with pair partner, Sir Steven Redgrave, never lost a race. A similar winning steak continued when Pinsent joined the four, being out of the medals only once up until 2003.

Victor Feddersen retired from rowing after his second Olympics in 2000. Feddersen, as stroke of Denmark’s Guldfireren – lightweight four, was part of an international winning streak that lasted from the 1996 Olympics through to 1999. Feddersen, a company consultant, stays active in club rowing and is regularly recognised on the street for his rowing success. Most recently he appeared in the game show Jeopardy.

Michiel Bartman is the veteran of two Olympic Games winning gold in the “Holland 8” in 1996 after an undefeated season during which his crew set a world record. Bartman then switched to sculling and won silver in the quad in 2000. Bartman is chairman of the Dutch National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission and is currently training full time as a member of his country’s eight as they work towards qualifying for the Athens Olympics. 

Each athlete will have the opportunity to campaign in the Olympic Village at Athens but strict criteria must be followed. “One A4 black and white page can be used to promote themselves,” says IOC Athletes’ Commission assistant, Stephanie Genoud. “These leaflets must be approved by the IOC and be written in French and English.”

Genoud says it does not matter which sport the athletes come from, but there can only be one from each country selected for the commission.

The candidates for the Athletes’ Commission are decided by each National Olympic Committee. Those selected will meet twice a year and serve a term of four years with an eight year maximum. German rower, Roland Barr currently serves on the commission and will step down having served two terms.

Voting will take place at the Athens Olympic Village during the Olympic Games and the four elected athletes will be announced on 26 August.