Kevan Gosper

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameRichard Kevan•Gosper
Used nameKevan•Gosper
Born19 December 1933 in Sydney, New South Wales (AUS)
Measurements188 cm / 77 kg
Affiliations?, New South Wales, (AUS) / Melbourne University Athletics Club, Melbourne (AUS)
NOC Australia
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Kevan Gosper competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 4x400 relay at the Melbourne Games. His biggest international victory was a gold medal in the 400 metres at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Gosper attended Michigan State University where he ran track, and also studied at the University of Newcastle. After college he joined the Shell Oil Company and eventually became Chief Executive Officer of the Australian branch of the company. He also served as a director of several Australian companies.

In sports administration, Kevan Gosper was the first Chairman of the Australian Institute of Sport from 1980-85, was President of the Australian Olympic Federation from 1985-90 and in 1989 became President of the Oceania Olympic Committees. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986, and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989.

Gosper became an IOC Member in June 1977 and resigned from the IOC in December 2013, upon turning 80-years-old, after which he was named an Honorary Member. He served the IOC in numerous capacities, including three terms on the Executive Board from 1986-94 and from 1995-2002. He was twice in the Vice-Presidential line of succession, serving as 1st Vice-President in 1993-94 and 2002-03. His primary IOC role was as Chairman of the Press Commission from 1989-2013. He also served on the following commissions: Olympic Solidarity (1981-84), Programme Commission (1984-87), Commission for the Preparation of the XII Olympic Congress (1990-94), Apartheid and Olympism (1989-92), Commission for the Centennial Olympic Congress (1994-96), and Working Group on Media Coordination (1989-90).

Personal Best: 400 – 46.3 (1960).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Kevan Gosper
400 metres, Men (Olympic) 4 h2 r3/4
4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Australia 2 Silver
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Kevan Gosper
400 metres, Men (Olympic) 6 h1 r3/4
4 × 100 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Australia DNS

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
Member International Olympic Committee 1977—2013 AUS Kevan Gosper
President Australian Olympic Committee 1985—1990 AUS Kevan Gosper
Executive Board Member International Olympic Committee 1986—1990 AUS Kevan Gosper
President Oceania National Olympic Committees 1989—2013 AUS Kevan Gosper
4th Vice-President International Olympic Committee 1990—1991 AUS Kevan Gosper
3rd Vice-President International Olympic Committee 1991—1992 AUS Kevan Gosper
2nd Vice-President International Olympic Committee 1992—1993 AUS Kevan Gosper
1st Vice-President International Olympic Committee 1993—1994 AUS Kevan Gosper
Executive Board Member International Olympic Committee 1995—1999 AUS Kevan Gosper
4th Vice-President International Olympic Committee 1999—2000 AUS Kevan Gosper
3rd Vice-President International Olympic Committee 2000—2001 AUS Kevan Gosper
2nd Vice-President International Olympic Committee 2001—2002 AUS Kevan Gosper
1st Vice-President International Olympic Committee 2002—2003 AUS Kevan Gosper
Honorary International Olympic Committee 2013— AUS Kevan Gosper

Special Notes