Call for nominations : 2021 Thomas Keller Medal and Distinguished Service Award

Nominations have opened for rowing’s most prestigious award, the 2021 Thomas Keller Medal and for the 2021 World Rowing Distinguished Service to International Rowing.

The Thomas Keller Medal is the highest distinction in the sport of rowing. It is awarded to recognise an exceptional international rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship and legendary aspect. The award was named after the late President of FISA, Thomas Keller (Thomi). Born in 1924, Keller was elected President of FISA in 1958 as a 34-year-old and was then the youngest-ever president of an international sports federation.

Each year the shortlist and winner is selected by the Thomas Keller Medal committee which includes Keller’s son Dominik. The aim is to ensure that the true values in which Keller so strongly believed are represented.

To be awarded the Thomas Keller Medal the following five factors are taken into consideration:

1. Success at the international level
2. “Type” of career
3. Technical mastery of the sport
4. Sportsmanship
5. “Legendary” aspect

For 2019 the Thomas Keller Medal was awarded to Kim Brennan of Australia. There was no award presented in 2020.

For more information click here.  To nominate click here. https://worldrowingforms.wufoo.com/forms/rf9qj1h0di26xr/

The public nomination process for the 2019 World Rowing Distinguished Service to International Rowing is now open.  This award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of international rowing. Nominees are considered based on their contribution to the sport made through grass-roots development, involvement in the organisation of large rowing events and long-term service to rowing.

Rowing is not limited to the crews on the water, it takes an enormous amount of off-water support and there are many who have contributed long past they retired from competitive rowing. The Distinguished Services Award acknowledges individuals for their service to the sport in the broadest sense. It is about their lifelong effort to make rowing accessible to all and to shape the future of the sport.

The Award was first presented in 2002 and the list of winners is remarkable. It includes names synonymous with rowing such as Norway’s Thor Nilsen and Anita DeFrantz of the United States. Nilsen was recognised for his work in rowing development; DeFrantz for her leadership in rowing and beyond. In 2019 the Distinguished Services Award went to two people, Mike Tanner (Hong Kong) and Mike Williams (Great Britain). No award was presented in 2020.

For more information click here. nominate click here. https://worldrowingforms.wufoo.com/forms/r12vb0au0r905qm/

Public nomination is open until 8 November 2021 (midnight CET)