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By Katie Lane
Olympian Jean-Christophe Rolland—president of World Rowing, the sport’s international governing body, since 2013–was re-elected unanimously.
“I am deeply honored to be re-elected to serve as president of World Rowing,” Rolland said. “Serving our sport is my only ambition, and it is a privilege to lead our organization for another four years, working with our members, athletes, and partners to continue shaping the future of rowing.
“I am proud of what we have achieved and I look forward to building on this momentum together and continuing to respect strictly the values of Olympism and our sport.”
The “ever challenging world of sport” calls for an even stronger foundation and ability to adapt to change, Rolland said. The work World Rowing has done, and continues to do, is aimed at securing rowing’s future by broadening its reach, enhancing its image, and diversifying sources of revenue.
Rolland listed ways rowing has changed and adapted already— the introduction of mixed boats at World Rowing events, the revision of the progression system for classic rowing events, and the development of coastal and indoor rowing contests.
“These changes, supported by a strong consensus within our community, demonstrate our readiness to adapt to a dynamic world, while safeguarding our sport’s essential values.”
The 2025 election occurred at the World Rowing Ordinary Congress in Shanghai after the World Rowing championships. Elections were held also for vice president (Annamarie Phelps of Great Britain) and treasurer (Gerritjan Eggenkamp of The Netherlands).
Katie Lane
