Claudia Bokel

Dutch-born German épée fencer Claudia Bokel attended, like her sisters, a German kindergarten and held dual citizenship. She appeared at three Olympic Games from 1996-2004 and won the team silver medal in 2004. Individually her best result was in 2000 when she placed eighth. At World Championships Bokel had her greatest moment in 2001, winning the individual title. She added three more team silver and four team bronze medals.

At European Championships, Bokel won two gold medals (1998 with the team and 2006 individually) and a further four bronze medals. In 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 she also won the German individual national title, and in 1998 and 2005 won the team title with OFC Bonn. In 2004, she was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award.

By profession, Bokel became a senior consultant at Bayer Leverkusen. She was also active as a sports administrator and was chosen to the athlete’s commission of the International Olympic Committee in 2008. From 2012-16 she was an Executive Board Member of the IOC. She was also president of the athlete’s commission of the European Olympic Committee from 2005-09 and a member of the NADA and the German NOC. In 2016, she was elected president of the German Fencing Association.