Denis Oswald

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameDenis•Oswald
Used nameDenis•Oswald
Born9 May 1947 in Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel (SUI)
Measurements181 cm / 77 kg
AffiliationsSN Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel (SUI)
NOC Switzerland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Denis Oswald was a top international rower who competed at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in coxed fours in 1968. He was a 13-time Swiss champion, including five wins in single sculls, with his best other international result a fourth-place in quad sculls at the 1974 World Championships.

Oswald studied law at the Universities of Neuchâtel, Zürich and Cambridge, eventually obtaining a doctorate in law in 1977. He became an independent lawyer at the Neuchâtel Bar, and President of the Bar in the Canton on Neuchâtel from 1990-93. In sports administration Oswald became secretary-general of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) in 1978, and then became President in 1989. He also served as deputy secretary-general of the Swiss Olympic Committee from 1985-96, and was President of the influential Association of Summer Olympic International Federations from 2000-12.

Oswald was co-opted onto the IOC in 1991. He has served on multiple commissions within the IOC, as follows: Executive Board; Chair, Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in 2004 in Athens; Chair, Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 in London; Vice-Chair, Eligibility Commission; Olympic Movement; Evaluation for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in 2004; Coordination for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in 2000 in Sydney, Coordination for the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in 2004 in Athens; Juridical; Medical; IOC 2000 (Executive Committee, 1999), IOC 2000 Reform Follow-Up, Sport and Law; member of the Olympic Collectors’ Association, then Vice-Chair (1996-99); and Vice-Chair of the International Olympic Memorabilia Federation. In 2013 Oswald ran for President of the IOC, but finished fourth in the voting that was won by Thomas Bach.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Rowing SUI Denis Oswald
Coxed Fours, Men (Olympic) Switzerland 3 Bronze
1972 Summer Olympics Rowing SUI Denis Oswald
Coxed Fours, Men (Olympic) Switzerland 8
1976 Summer Olympics Rowing SUI Denis Oswald
Quadruple Sculls, Men (Olympic) Switzerland 8

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
President World Rowing 1989—2014 SUI Denis Oswald
Individual International Olympic Committee 1991— SUI Denis Oswald
Executive Board Summer IF Representative International Olympic Committee 2000—2012 SUI Denis Oswald
President Association of Summer Olympic International Federations 2000—2013 SUI Denis Oswald

Special Notes