Sebastian Brendel of Germany has been chosen as the International Canoe Federation’s Athletes’ Committee Chair for 2025-2029.
The eight-member ICF Athletes’ Committee, which was confirmed in the first week of November, held a meeting recently to elect the multiple Olympic champion.
As Chair, Brendel will sit on the ICF Executive Committee and Board of Directors, with voting rights in all important matters concerning the sport moving forward.
He will lead the Athletes’ Committee consisting of Slovakia’s Michal Martikan, Czechia’s Amalie Hilgertova, Katie Vincent of Canada, Emma Wiggs of Great Britain, Eslam Jahedi of Iran, Danielle Richards of New Zealand, and Charlie Brackpool of Great Britain.
Brendel, who retired from the sport earlier this year, has been busy leading the next generation of paddlers at the development camp at the 2025 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal.
The 37-year-old has also been coaching at his boyhood club, KC Potsdam, and working simultaneously as Police Commissioner at the German Federal Police.
He will now be the leading voice for athletes on topics including mental health and wellbeing, the prevention of harassment in sport, anti-doping in sport, and the prevention of competition manipulation, among others.
A multiple world champion, Brendel emphasised he will pay special attention to communication and participation across all disciplines, Olympic programme and qualification, inclusion, access to paddle sport around the world, wellbeing of athletes at competitions, and visibility of the sport during his tenure.
“I am very happy and proud to be the Chair of the ICF Athletes’ Committee for the next four years. It is a pleasure for me after being an athlete for several years," Brendel said.
“I think we have a strong Athletes’ Committee. Everybody is invited to share their opinions and contact us. Feel free to share your interests and your point of view.”
Related links
Latest News
