Athletics: Jean Gracia succeeds André Giraud
Until then vice-president of the French Athletics Federation, Jean Gracia was elected president of the FFA on Saturday to replace André Giraud and takes the head of a federation lacking results at the very high level.
Aged 69, Mr. Gracia is a familiar face in federal corridors: he was until now one of the vice-presidents of the FFA and also holds this position at the European Athletics Federation.
This former sprinter, who started athletics as a teenager in Cannes (in a club of which he was president in the 80s/90s), was also general director of the FFA between 1992 and 2015 and was briefly secretary general of the International Federation (World Athletics, at the time IAAF) in 2016.
A ” campaign on all fronts »
“It is a pride and an honor to be elected president of the FFA and a certain relief too because we campaigned on all fronts,” reacted Saturday Mr. Gracia, who was a candidate in duo with Emmanuelle Jaeger, former specialist in the 100 km, which becomes the No.2 of the Federation.
42%
For the first time, it was the presidents of some 2,500 athletics clubs (300,000 members) in France who voted to elect their new leader. Gracia was elected with just under 42% of the vote.
He succeeds André Giraud, who decided at the age of 77 not to run for a third term after eight years in office.
Boxing: Dominique Nato re-elected
Dominique Nato, the only candidate in the running, was re-elected on Saturday as president of the French Boxing Federation.
94,69%
Nato's list, in office since 2021, obtained 94.69% of the votes.
The 67-year-old former boxer was the only candidate in the running after the candidacy of Olympic champion Estelle Mossely was withdrawn.
Nato's re-election comes at the end of a stormy campaign, marked by attacks and legal challenges.
In mid-November, Sarah Ourahmoune, who should have presented herself as Dominique Nato's running mate, threw in the towel, disgusted by racist and sexist attacks against her.
No opposition list
Then a new episode disrupted the campaign with the invalidation of the only opposition list, that of Estelle Mossely, on the grounds that a candidate on the list presented an invalid license.
The 32-year-old boxer continued her campaign but saw her various appeals rejected, first by the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) then by the courts. She then called on voters to abstain during the election. In the end, the participation rate was 69.24%.
In the rings, in the corner or in the courts, Dominique Nato has become over the years one of the familiar faces of French boxing. Before taking charge of the Federation, he had held numerous positions, from vice-president at DTN to national coach.
Swimming: Gilles Sézionale re-elected president
Gilles Sézionale was unsurprisingly re-elected on Saturday as president of the French Swimming Federation for a third term.
89,12%
Alone in the running, he received 622 favorable votes (out of 698 voters) or 89.12% of the votes. The 66-year-old from Nice took the helm of the Federation in 2017, ending 24 years of reign of his predecessor Francis Luyce.
Europe in France in 2026
After an Olympiad concluded with seven medals including four titles at the Paris Games, the Federation will have its sights set on the European Championships organized in France in 2026 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Handisport: after his gold medal in Paris, Gaël Rivière appointed president of the federation
Recent Paralympic blind football champion Gaël Rivière was named president of the French Disabled Sports Federation for the next four years on Saturday in Paris.
87,93%
Gaël Rivière, 34, succeeds Guislaine Westelynck, his candidacy proposed by the new steering committee having “been approved at 87.93%”, specifies the Federation in a press release.
Paralympic champion and lawyer
A native of Reunion, the French international, also a lawyer, was a Paralympic silver medalist with the Blues in London-2012 before a memorable coronation in Paris this summer, beating Argentina (1-1, 3 tab 2) on penalties at the Stade de la Tour Eiffel. He is also a three-time European champion.
“This summer, on the grounds of the Stade Tour Eiffel, at the time of our Paralympic coronation in blind football, what I heard was that disabled sports could create a strong dynamic. Our federation can be the beacon that guides and enlightens,” reacted Gaël Rivière after his election.
>>> Also read: Cécifoot: France crowned after its victory against Argentina
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