Athletes' Commission Election

AUSTRALIA

Luke Letcher
Classic Rowing

Nearly a decade of athlete advocacy, including Rowing Australia Athletes Commission membership and chair role since 2022. State and national rowing board experience, not-for-profit governance training, and four years on the World Rowing Athletes Commission. 

 

BRAZIL

Jairo Klug
Classic Rowing / Para Rowing

Paralympian with extensive international rowing experience. Strong commitment to athlete representation, fairness, transparency, para-rowing development and inclusion, with a collaborative and solution-oriented approach. 

 

CANADA

Kristen Kit
Classic Rowing

Paralympic and Olympic Games experience as a cox, with strong insight into athletes’ challenges across both environments. Domestic and international athlete council experience, strong advocacy skills and passion for rowing. 

 

CROATIA

Valent Sinkovic
Classic Rowing

Multiple Olympian and Olympic gold medallist, with athlete perspective from junior to senior elite level. Strong communication, transparent athlete representation, integrity, fairness and a teamwork-driven, solutions-first mindset. 

 

EGYPT

Ali Hassan
Coastal Rowing

International rower across flatwater and coastal/beach sprint rowing, bringing African and developing-nation perspectives. Athlete commission leadership at national, continental and Olympic Committee level, with focus on governance, welfare, career transition and communication. 

 

EL SALVADOR

Adriana Escobar
Classic Rowing

Experience within WADA, Panam Sports and NOC environments, with real-time problem-solving at the Olympic and Pan American Games. Founder of El Salvador’s first National Athletes Forum and strong bridge-builder between athletes and officials. 

 

SPAIN

Esther Briz
Coastal Rowing

Two-time Beach Sprint World Champion, two-time Coastal Rowing Champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, with strong cross-discipline experience across established and emerging rowing formats. Stanford engineering background and Oxford MBA, bringing analytical, governance and multicultural communication skills to support athlete representation. 

 

FINLAND

Joel Naukkarinen
Coastal Rowing

Elite international athlete across classic, coastal and indoor rowing, with broad understanding of athlete needs. Medical doctor and neuroscience researcher, bringing expertise in performance, health, recovery, communication and evidence-based decision-making. 

 

FRANCE

Elodie Ravera
Classic Rowing

Three Olympic Games and over 15 years at international level across sculling, sweep, coastal and beach sprint rowing. Strong connection to current athletes, French-English fluency, coaching and entrepreneurial skills, and ability to turn athlete needs into action. 

 

GREAT BRITAIN

Benjamin Pritchard
Classic Rowing / Para Rowing

Four years on the World Rowing Athletes Commission, with continuity, institutional knowledge and para-athlete perspective. Board governance, legal education, insurance and risk management expertise, plus strategic leadership and BPA Athletes’ Commission experience. 

 

GERMANY

Juliane Faralisch
Classic Rowing

Cross-cultural and inclusive leadership, high-performance execution and elite competitiveness. Strong interpersonal communication, open dialogue, growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement. 

 

HUNGARY

Petervari-Molnar Bendeguz
Classic Rowing

Three-time Olympian and President of the Hungarian Olympic Athletes’ Commission, with Hungarian Olympic Committee Board and EOC Athletes’ Commission experience. Strong sports governance, athlete advocacy, media, communications and stakeholder engagement background. 

 

IRAN

Zeinab Norouzi Tazeh Kand
Classic Rowing

Olympian and Asian Games medallist with extensive international rowing experience. Athlete-centred vision focused on athletes’ voices, gender equality, fair opportunities and stronger engagement with World Rowing. 

 

IRELAND

Aifric Keogh
Classic Rowing

Two-time Olympian, Olympic bronze medallist and three-time European medallist. Chair of the Olympic Federation of Ireland Athletes Commission and Board member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, bringing strong governance and athlete representation experience. 

 

ITALY

Luca Rambaldi
Classic Rowing

Olympic silver medallist and World Champion in the men’s quadruple sculls, with current elite international competition experience. Strong understanding of athlete welfare, representation, inclusion, communication and sustainable long-term development of rowing. 

 

SAUDI ARABIA

Husein Alireza
Classic Rowing

Olympic quarterfinalist and Saudi Arabia’s Tokyo 2020 flag bearer, with athlete representation roles across IOC, OCA, WADA and Asian Rowing. WADA Foundation Board member and Saudi Rowing Federation founding member, with expertise in welfare, anti-doping, integrity and emerging regions. 

 

KUWAIT

Soaad Alfaqaan
Classic Rowing

International rower representing Kuwait with firsthand global competition experience. Strong focus on athlete voice, wellbeing, emerging rowing nations, sports leadership, event organisation and inclusive athlete-centred community building. 

 

LITHUANIA

Donata Karaliene
Classic Rowing

More than 20 years of elite rowing experience, including four Olympic Games and a full understanding of the athlete journey from development to retirement. Lithuanian Rowing Federation leadership, athlete representative experience, integrity and practical insight into life beyond competition. 

 

MEXICO

Rafael Mejia Gutierrez
Classic Rowing

Latin American rowing perspective and strong focus on communication across all roles in the sport. Values-driven approach to conflict, resilience after mistakes and commitment to the best interests of the rowing community. 

 

NEW ZEALAND

Logan Ullrich
Classic Rowing

Athlete Representative Group experience at Rowing New Zealand, with ongoing leadership development. Athlete and rowing coach perspective, with practical understanding of what rowers need to perform and thrive on and off the water. 

 

ROMANIA

Ionela-Livia Cozmiuc
Classic Rowing

Extensive international rowing and Olympic movement experience, with strong understanding of athletes’ career challenges. Commitment to athlete welfare, integrity, equality, clean sport and practical insight into balancing elite sport, education, career and family life. 

 

SERBIA

Martin Mackovic
Classic Rowing

Active international athlete with firsthand understanding of current rowers’ opportunities and challenges. Strong advocacy for athlete welfare and education, mentoring experience, communication skills and commitment to trust and collaboration with World Rowing. 

 

TUNISIA

Khadija Krimi
Coastal Rowing

Elite multi-discipline experience in flatwater and coastal/beach sprint rowing, with understanding of diverse athlete needs. Sports administration, inclusive sport initiatives, engineering-based problem-solving and commitment to global inclusivity and sustainable development. 

 

TURKIYE

Dakin Muharrem
Coastal Rowing / Para Rowing

Chair of the Turkish Rowing Federation Athlete Commission and active national team para rower with international beach sprint experience. Legal expertise in regulations, compliance, integrity and governance, supporting ethical and athlete-centred decision-making. 

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Christine Cavallo
Coastal Rowing

Ten U.S. National Teams across Junior, U23 and Senior levels, with Beach Sprint experience since 2021 and strong insight into athlete safety and coastal rowing conditions. International relations, sustainability, nonprofit engagement, environmental advocacy and rowing podcast experience.