Nominations open for 2014 Thomas Keller Medal

The World Rowing Federation, FISA, would like to hear from the general public on who they would like to pick for the prestigious Thomas Keller Medal for 2014.

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.

Following the 1988 Olympic Games Thomi Keller spontaneously awarded the FISA Medal of Honour to single scullers Peter-Michael Kolbe (Germany) and Pertti Karppinen (Finland) to commemorate one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport, thereby recognising their exceptional talent and sportsmanship. This shaped the idea of the Thomas Keller Medal which was initiated by the Keller family following Thomi's passing in 1989 and was first awarded to the great Norwegian rower Alf Hansen in 1990.

Each year the winner is carefully selected by the Thomas Keller Medal committee which includes Keller's son Dominik and it follows a broad international nomination process including public nominations. 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

In 2013 Eskild Ebbesen of Denmark was awarded the distinction. Ebbesen, who retired after his fifth Olympic Games in 2012, is Denmark's most successful Olympian of all time. A lightweight rower, Ebbesen collected three gold and two bronze Olympic medals as well as six World Championship titles during his two-decade reign of the lightweight men's four. Ebbesen was known as a legend and a role model amongst rowers who knew not only how to succeed but also come through adversity.
Previous winners include Vaclav Chalupa (CZE), Jueri Jaanson (Estonia), James Tomkins (Australia), Kathrin Boron (Germany), Elisabeta Lipa (Romania) and Steve Redgrave (Great Britain). To view the full list of winners, please click here.

The award will be presented on Saturday 12 July 2014 at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Please click HERE to submit your nomination  for this year's Thomas Keller Medal to FISA by midnight CET on Friday 21 February 2014.