Keller medal nominations now open

Awarded each year by the International Rowing Federation (FISA) the medal is the highest honour in the sport of rowing. The award recognises an exceptional rowing career as well as exemplary sportsmanship.

The following five factors are taken into consideration when selecting the successful recipient:

1. Success on the international level – medal count taking level of competition into account.
2. Type of career – overcoming obstacles, shortcomings.
3. Technical mastery of the sport – success in different boat types as well as sculling and sweep rowing.
4. Sportsmanship – respect for others, attitude and character.
5. Legendary aspect – how perceived by the rowing world and the world outside rowing.

Nominations can be submitted, with justification of up to 250 words, directly to FISA headquarters by 23 February 2007. Click here for the official nominations form.

The finalists will be selected on Friday 9 March 2007. The 18-carat gold Thomas Keller medal will be presented on Sunday 15 July during the Rowing World Cup final in Lucerne, Switzerland by Dominik Keller, son of the late Thomas Keller.

Named after the late President of FISA, the medal was first awarded to the great Norwegian oarsman Alf Hansen in 1990. Last year Italian rowing legend Agostino Abbagnale received the honour.

Previous recipients of the Thomas Keller Medal are:

1990 Alf Hansen (NOR)
1991 Thomas Greiner (GER)
1994 Yuri Pimenov (RUS)
1996 Francesco Esposito (ITA)
1996 Nikolai Pimenov (RUS)
1996 Rolf Thorsen (NOR)
1997 Giuseppe Abbagnale (ITA)
1997 Carmine Abbagnale (ITA)
1997 Jana Sorgers (GER)
1997 Thomas Lange (GER)
1998 Kerstin Koeppen (GER)
1998 Roland Baar (GER)
1999 Silken Laumann (CAN)
1999 Kathleen Heddle (CAN)
2001 Steve Redgrave (GBR)
2002 Marnie McBean (CAN)
2003 Peter Antoine (AUS)
2004 Nico Rienks (NED)
2005 Matthew Pinsent (GBR)
2006 Agostino Abbagnale (ITA)

For more information please contact Marion Gallimore, FISA Marketing and Communications Manager at marion.gallimore@fisa.org or tel.: +41 21 617 83 73.