Thomas Keller (rowing)

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**Thomas Keller**
Date of birth	1924
Place of birth	,
Date of death	1989
Specialty	Rowing
Previous Teams

Thomas Keller also known as Thomi Keller (1924–1989) was president of FISA the governing board for international rowing from 1958 until his death in 1989.^[1]A chemical engineer, industrialist and company director, he presided over and inspired the Swiss conglomerate for sport timing, “Swiss Timing” for more than a quarter of a century (from 1972 to 1989).^{[citation needed]}

In his youth, he was a gifted skier and was a member of the Swiss university team for combined Nordic skiing and ski-jumping.^{[citation needed]} It was in rowing, however, that he truly excelled. He was Swiss champion several times over (five times in single or double scull), and a Bronze medalist in single scull at the 1950 European Championships.^{[citation needed]}

Keller was chosen to row at the 1956 Summer Olympics, but his national Olympic Committee chose to boycott the games in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Hungary (see 1956 Hungarian Revolution).^{[citation needed]} The Swiss Olympic Committee later reversed its decision, but it was too late to arrange transport to the games in Melbourne, Australia.^{[citation needed]} This decision prompted Keller to become involved in sports administration.^{[citation needed]} Two years later, he became president of FISA. At 34 years of age he was one of the youngest presidents of an international sports federation ever to be elected.^{[citation needed]} Keller's principle was that the athletic contests were for the athletes, and their interests came first.^{[citation needed]}

The Thomas Keller Medal is named after him.^{[citation needed]} It is presented by FISA to recently retired rowers who has had an outstanding international career.^{[citation needed]}