Named after the former president of the World Rowing Federation, (FISA), Thomas Keller, the medal recognises excellence in the sport of rowing. The list of previous recipients is a ‘who’s who’ of rowing, each year recognising one of the rowing greats.

The winner receives an 18-carat gold medal and last year this was bestowed on Slovenian sporting legend, Iztok Cop. Cop’s long rowing career included six Olympic Games and 16 World Rowing Championships. It began at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games when he became the first Olympic medallist for the newly-independent Slovenia, with a bronze in the men’s pair. Cop also had medal success in the men’s single sculls and men’s double sculls.

Nominations are open to the public until 15 February 2016 (midnight CET) and take into consideration five factors:

Success at the international level
“Type” of career
Technical mastery of the sport
Sportsmanship
“Legendary” aspect

Click here to submit your nomination

The list of recipients includes Great Britain’s Matthew Pinsent who received the award in 2005 after winning his fourth Olympic gold medal. Canada’s Marnie McBean was the winner in 2002. McBean was a rowing ‘all-rounder’, finding success in nearly every boat class.

Vaclav Chalupa of the Czech Republic took the award in 2012 and although Chalupa never won Olympic gold, he regularly medalled at the highest level and was known as an outstanding ambassador for the sport of rowing. He encapsulated modesty, selflessness and the spirit of fair play.

When asked in a television interview whether he would become a coach, he replied: “Being a coach is a mission. A coach must be tough, which I am not. When something is difficult and painful, I prefer doing it myself rather than torturing someone else.”

The Thomas Keller Medal will be presented on Saturday 28 May 2016 at the World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne, Switzerland.

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