Antonio da Silva Elected LEN President

Antonio da Silva, the Portuguese Aquatics Federation President, was elected LEN President on Saturday by receiving 96% of the majority vote among the 47 federations present and the three federations attending the vote online. The congress also voted 98 to 2 to dismiss the previous Bureau.

In his first speech as LEN President, da Silva said, “We had the courage to stand up and fight for a better future for all federations and all the aquatic disciplines. We stood up and fought for the principles of Unity, for openness and transparency for the sacred principles of democracy. We spoke out and demanded that LEN worked with FINA for the good of the sport worldwide. We can no longer exist in isolation, together we are stronger.”

One of the first items on da Silva’s to-do list as president is restructuring the LEN Office and Bureau, reshaping the organization’s Constitution, and reviewing LEN’s competition structure and schedule. He also hopes to work with each European governing body to achieve unity across the region. 

He plans on enlarging the LEN Bureau to include more members in hopes that eventually two more European members can join the FINA Bureau. 

Da Silva’s election comes after he ran on behalf of “Europe 4 All Aquatics,” a group of European federations that united to give LEN leadership a vote of no confidence in hopes that a new congress would be elected in early 2022. He announced his candidacy for LEN President in December 2021. 

For the first time in the history of European aquatics, LEN has elected a female General Secretary, Andina Bouma of the Netherlands. Tomas Kucinskas of Lithuania is the new LEN Treasurer, while Kyriakos Giannopoulos (Greece), Christer Magnusson (Sweden), Gilles Sezionale (France), Marco Troll (Germany) and Josip Varvodic (Croatia) are the new Vice-Presidents.

The new board members include Jack Buckner (Great Britan), Ewen A Cameron (Switzerland), Fernando Carpena (Spain), Rokuri Jakupsstovu (Faroe Islands), Pia Johansen (Denmark), Milos Mracevic (Montenegro), Petr Ryska (Czech Republic), Erkan Yalcin (Turkey), Noam Zwi (Israel)

The elected FINA board members still need to be ratified by the FINA bureau, but include Kyriakos Giannopoulos (Greece), Otylia Jedzrejczak (Poland), Josip Varvodic (Croatia), Sami Wahlman (Finland).

Jedzrejczak is an Olympic gold medalist in the 200 butterfly from the 2004 Games in Athens. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, she was the youngest athlete of the entire Polish delegation. She also competed in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics. 

Full LEN Press Release:

2022 LEN Extraordinary Congress, Frankfurt

Antonio da Silva is elected new LEN President

At the LEN Extraordinary Congress held in Frankfurt, Antonio da Silva was elected the new LEN President with a majority of 96%. For the first time, LEN will have a lady as its General Secretary, former artistic swimmer Andida Bouma, while Tomas Kucinskas is the new LEN Treasurer. At the end of the meeting, FINA President Husain al-Musallam joined from remote and welcomed the successful conclusion of the Congress and said it was time “to work together as one family.” 

Antonio da Silva of Portugal is the new LEN President after receiving the vast majority of the votes at the LEN Extraordinary Congress in Frankfurt. His candidacy enjoyed a 96% support among the 47 federations present and three more attending the event online. The Congress voted 92 to 8 to dismiss the previous Bureau.

The Congress then elected a new Bureau – for the first time in the history European Aquatics, LEN has a female General Secretary, Andida Bouma of the Netherlands. Tomas Kucinskas of Lithuania is the new LEN Treasurer, while Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Christer Magnusson (SWE), Gilles Sezionale (FRA), Marco Troll (GER) and Josip Varvodic (CRO) are the new Vice-Presidents.

In his first speech as President, Mr Da Silva said “We had the courage to stand up and fight for a better future for all federations and all the aquatic disciplines. We stood up and fought for the principles of Unity, for openness and transparency for the sacred principles of democracy. We spoke out and demanded that LEN worked with FINA for the good of the sport worldwide. We can no longer exist in isolation, together we are stronger.”

The new LEN President underlined that the real hard work was still ahead. Among the first items on his new team’s agenda is the restructuring of the LEN Office and the Bureau and to shape and agree on a new Constitution and to review LEN’s competition structure and calendar.

“There are no fewer than 8 goals for integrity, transparency and governance, 7 regarding inclusion and access to our sport, 6 for collaboration between aquatic disciplines and 8 for sustainability so we have a lot to do” Mr Da Silva said who insisted his goal was to reach out for each National Federation as he wanted to achieve real unity in Europe.

He also added, that after the new Constitution is approved – this is anticipated in May, at a next Congress –, his team plans to enlarge the LEN Bureau to include more members and there is a hope that two more European members can join the FINA Bureau in the near future.

Newly elected Vice-President Josip Varvodic also thanked the trust of the national federations and emphasised that there would be no division in the LEN Family any longer as everyone’s opinion shall be heard and welcomed.

FINA President Husain al-Musallam joined the event via remote connection to address the LEN Congress.

“I would like to congratulate the LEN Family for the successful conclusion of this important Congress –it is important for the future of LEN and all the aquatics around the world” the FINA President said. “I believe it’s time to work as one family. Our goal should be to support the aquatic movement and our athlete with every single step we take. Everybody may have a different opinion, but we should be united to support the development of aquatics.”

FINA President concluded: “Europe is very important for the world – and the world needs the help of Europe. With the new president and his team, FINA count on Europe in supporting the development of aquatic sports.”

The new LEN Bureau:

President: Antonio da Silva (POR)

General Secretary: Andida Bouma (NED)

Treasurer: Tomas Kucinskas (LTU)

Vice-Presidents: Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Christer Magnusson (SWE), Gilles Sezionale (FRA), Marco Troll (GER), Josip Varvodic (CRO)

Members: Jack Buckner (GBR), Ewen A Cameron (SUI), Fernando Carpena (ESP), Rokuri

Jakupsstovu (FAR), Pia Johansen (DEN), Milos Mracevic (MNE), Petr Ryska (CZE), Erkan Yalcin (TUR), Noam Zwi (ISR)

FINA Bureau Members: Kyriakos Giannopoulos (GRE), Otylia Jedzrejczak (POL), Josip Varvodic (CRO), Sami Wahlman (FIN) – to be ratified by the FINA Bureau