2007 Thomas Keller Award winner to be announced at Lucerne

The award, named after the late president of FISA, Thomas Keller, is the highest distinction in rowing and is awarded each year since 1990 to recognise an exceptional rowing career and exemplary sportsmanship.

Five finalists were selected earlier this year by the Thomas Keller committee which is made up of Dominik Keller, son of Thomas Keller, and a handful of rowing experts.

This year’s finalists are France’s Jean-Christophe Rolland, Mike McKay of Australia, Constantina Burcica of Romania, New Zealand’s Rob Waddell and Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany.

Currently Jean-Christophe Rolland serves on FISA’s Athletes Commission after retiring from international rowing in 2000 following a gold medal performance at the Sydney Olympics.

Mike McKay was part of the legendary Australian Oarsome Foursome that won gold at the Atlanta Olympics. He continued on to be part of the Sydney silver medal eight and then gave it a last blast as a 40 year old to win bronze at Athens.

Romania’s Constantina Burcica has won every lightweight women’s double Olympic gold since its inception at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as well as earning silver as a heavyweight at the Barcelona Olympics.

Rob Waddell helped stimulate a resurgence in New Zealand rowing after his gold medal win at the Sydney Olympics. He has often been pointed to as the inspiration behind many of New Zealand’s current successful rowers. He recently took part in the America’s Cup challenge as a grinder on the Team New Zealand sailing boat.

Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski had a long and illustrious career that began as a junior medallist and ended 13 years later with Olympic gold in the single in Athens.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, around 13:00 CET on the medal ceremony pontoon of the Rotsee regatta course. The medal shall be presented by Dominik Keller and FISA President Denis Oswald.

Information about the winner and photos of the awarding will be available immediately after the ceremony on Sunday.

About the Thomas Keller Medal

“Any competitor who has had a long and successful rowing career and who has made an outstanding contribution to rowing as a competitor and as sports personality will be considered for this honour. In principle, only one medal may be awarded in any one year.”

Profile of the Candidates – The following five factors are taken into consideration when selecting the successful recipient:

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

N.B.: The medal should be awarded in principle to someone up to five years after official retirement.

Previous winners of the Thomas Keller Medal:

Alf Hansen (NOR)
Thomas Greiner (GER)
Yuri Pimenov (RUS)
Francesco Esposito (ITA)
Nikolai Pimenov (RUS)
Rolf Thorsen (NOR)
Giuseppe Abbagnale (ITA)
Carmine Abbagnale (ITA)
Jana Sorgers (GER)
Thomas Lange (GER)
Kerstin Koeppen (GER)
Roland Baar (GER)
Silken Laumann (CAN)
Kathleen Heddle (CAN)
Steve Redgrave (GBR)
Marnie McBean (CAN)
Peter Antoine (AUS)
Nico Rienks (NED)
Matthew Pinsent (GBR)
Agostino Abbagnale (ITA)