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STRUCTURE

António José Silva

POR
President

Noam Zwi

ISR
General Secretary

Josip Varvodic

CRO
First Vice President

Andida Bouma

NED
Treasurer

Kyriakos Giannopoulos

GRE
Vice President

Gilles Sezionale

FRA
Vice President

Erkan Yalcin

TUR
Vice President

Christer Magnusson

SWE
Vice President

Vanja Udovičić

SRB
Vice President

Camelia Potec

ROU
Bureau Member

Graeme Marchbank

GBR
Bureau Member

Norbert Madaras

HUN
Bureau Member

Fernando Carpena

ESP
Bureau Member

Ewen A Cameron

SUI
Bureau Member

Rokur I Jakupsstovu

FRO
Bureau Member

Pia Johansen

DEN
Bureau Member

Milos Mracevic

MNE
Bureau Member

Arno Pajek

AUT
Bureau Member

Liam Tancock

GBR
Bureau Member

Marco Troll

GER
Vice President

Honorary Life Presidents

Nory Kruchten

LUX

Bartolo Consolo

SUI

World Aquatics Representatives

Erik van Heijningen

NED

Josip Varvodic

CRO

Kyriakos Giannopoulos

GRE

Otylia Jedzrejczak

POL

Pernille Blume

DEN

Sandor Wladar

HUN

Sarah Keane

IRL

Vladimir Salnikov

RUS

António José SILVA

President

POR
Sporting and Coaching Career

Swimmer and water polo player, 1979 – 1993.
National & international coach, 1995 – 2007.

Trained athletes who have broken several national records and that have qualified for European Junior Championships.

Academic Experience in Sport Professor of Sports Science, Exercise and Health at The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal, 2012 – present. Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science, 1993.
Post-Graduate Master’s Degree in High Performance. Sports Training from University of Lisbon, Portugal, 1997.
PhD in Sports Science, UTAD, 2001.
Pro-Rector for Development and Internationalization at UTAD, 2007 – 2013.
Vice-Rector for Science and Technology UTAD, 2013 – 2016.
Director of the Research Centre in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 2007 – 2013.
President of the Life and Environmental Sciences School’s (ECVA) Pedagogic Council, 2009 – 2013.

Published 50 books and book chapters and 290 articles in peer-reviewed and internationally recognised journals.

Sports Administration President of the Portuguese Swimming Coach Association, 2005 – 2009.
President of the Portuguese Swimming Coach Association General Assembly, 2008 – 2012.
President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, 2013 – present.
Member of the Portuguese National Council of Sports, 2016 – present.
Member of World Aquatics Swimming Technical Committee, 2017 – present.
World Aquatics Bureau Member, 2021 - present.

World Aquatics Vice President.

Gianni Minervini

Acting Executive Director

Gianni is a three-time Italian Olympic swimmer who competed at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games during a period which also saw the breaststroke specialist claim two World Championships and five European Championships medals, as well as two Mediterranean Games titles and two NCAA titles. He also broke the European record in the 100 meters breaststroke and held the Italian record in the event for 14 years.

During his time studying at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) he attained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry / Materials Science and a Master’s degree in Materials Science Engineering.

He developed his professional profile through strategic and operational roles – at local and global levels – during 21 years at Procter & Gamble and was the Associate Director of the Rome 2009 World Aquatics Championship Organising Committee.

Gianni joined European Aquatics in 2015 initially as the Financial Manager before going on to hold Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director roles.

Noam Zwi

General Secretary

ISR
ISA vice president, responsible for international relations, chairman of synchronized swimming and all international competitions in Israel.

European Aquatics Bureau Member since 2012.
13 years President of ISA (2002-2015).
15 years NOC member.
8 years chairman of sport committee of NOC.
3 years NOC Vice President.

TOWSC member in World Aquatics for the last 11 years until present day.

National and Olympic coach 1989-1992.

Lawyer, born 1958 in Jerusalem. Married with 4 children.

His late mother was an excellent swimmer and the first to cross the Sea of Galilee 10 K in 1941.
Mr. Zwi following her steps swam for many years and then played water polo. He coached swimming for 15 years and was the national coach for 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He established the swimming club of "Hapoel Jerusalem" and was its director 1990-2002, during that time the club won National Championships 12 times.

In 1993 became a member of the Israel Swimming Federation, in 1994 the chairman of the technical committee and in 2003 the president of the federation till 2015. Chairman of the OC for the Europeans SC 2015 and the Junior Europeans 2017. Chairman of OC for World Aquatics OWS Cup (4 times) and European OW championship 2011 + European Aquatics Cup (10 times).

Josip Varvodic

First Vice President

CRO
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.

2013-2018 Residency in cardio-thoracic surgery University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb and University Hospital Vienna.

Member of European Aquatics Medical Committee 2011 – 2022.
Member of World Aquatics Sports Medicine Committee 2017 – 2022.
European Aquatics 1st Vice President February 2022 - present.
World Aquatics Bureau Member March 2022 to present.

President of Medical Commission Croatian Swimming Federation 2010 – present.
President of Supervisory Board Croatian Swimming Federation 2019 – 2022.
President of Croatian Swimming Federation October 2022 to present.

Member of Croatian Anti-Doping Agency.
Member of Organising Committees of numerous aquatic European and International Championships.
Lecturer at Croatian Swimming Coaches Academy.

Andida Bouma

Treasurer

NED
Andida Bouma is an experienced Board member, having served on the board of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation for 12 years, of which 8 as Treasurer. Her aquatics background is Artistic Swimming.

She has been an active member of the TASC of European Aquatics since 2008. She is internationally active as World Aquatics Evaluator in Artistic Swimming and is a member of the World Aquatics instructor group for judges’ schools. She acted as a judge during several World Championships and the Tokyo Olympic Games.
During her period on the board of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation, the federation successfully organized several European Championships as well as several other international competitions. She also served on the Financial Committee of the National Olympic Committee of The Netherlands.

Andida built her career in the financial services industry. She currently is a senior manager at AlpInvest, one of the largest, globally operating, private equity investors in the world with over $55 billion of assets under management and over 400 investors as clients. Andida is responsible for the Accounting and Treasury Operations and 50 FTE.

Andida has an MBA from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam. She is also a Certified Management Accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Andida was a national level athlete and still enjoys swimming. She is fluent in English and Dutch, very good in French and somewhat less in German.

Kyriakos Giannopoulos

Vice President

GRE
My involvement to sports began early in my life with swimming and water polo, as an athlete.

I am an Olympian and as a water polo athlete, I have participated in 4 Olympic Games.

In the past 25 years, I have served the aquatics sports in various managerial positions. I have a passion for sports and I strongly believe that my knowledge and expertise will assist the new vision of European Aquatics and our commitment to positive change.

Education
Bachelor’s Degree-Political Studies in Athens University (1983).
European Culture in Athens Open University (2009).
Sports Venue Management in Netherlands (2010).


Work Experience: 2021-present President of Hellenic Swimming Federation.
2010-2018 Managing Director of Hamdan Sports Complex.
2004-2009 General Manager of Athens Olympic Complex.
2002-2004 Venue Manager of Olympic Aquatic Center (Athens OG Organizing Committee).
2001-2002 Consultant of Athens OG Organizing Committee.
1998-2001 Water Polo Manager of Sports Nautical Club of Glyfada.
1996-1998 Water Polo Manager of Olympiacos Sports Club.
1994-1996 Technical Consultant of Hellenic Olympic Committee.

Gilles Sezionale

Vice President

FRA
President of the French Swimming Federation.
World Aquatics Bureau Member.
President of the Regional swimming League of PACA (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur).
President of the CIAA (inter-federal council for aquatic activities).


Formerly:

European Aquatics Bureau Member.
Delegated Vice-President of the French Swimming Federation.
President of the National Swimming Sports Commission.
Elected at the Regional Sports and Olympic Committee.
Member of Anti-Doping structures.
I have also been involved many years with the coaching of national and international swimmers.


In addition of the above, I have also a PhD in pharmaceutical science, I am the owner of a pharmacy and President of the Association of Professional pharmacists of Côte d’Azur and President of a centralized purchasing body.

Erkan Yalcin

Vice President

TUR
Born in 1978, Sivas, Turkey.
Married and father of 2.


2011-present: Businessman, founder of 32 Net Contact Call Center,
2017-2018: Chairman of the Supervisory Council, Volleyball Federation,
2017: Vice President, Turkish Swimming Federation,
2017: National Relations Committee, World Aquatics,
2017-present: President of Turkish Swimming Federation

Christer Magnusson

Vice President

SWE
Senior Consultant, Specialist in Cardiology and Internal Medicine.

Club: Swimmer, Coach, Board member, President.

Swedish Swimming federation

Board Member 1995-1998, 2001-2010, Secretary 2010-2020, Vice President 2020-present day.
TV commentator (Swedish, English): 1995-2012.

Ninna, daughter Linnéa 16 years old, 3 bonus children, 5 bonus grandchildren.

European Aquatics Medical Committee Member 2008-2016, Secretary 2016-2020.
European Aquatics Bureau Member 2020-present.

World Aquatics Technical Swimming Committee Member 2013-2017.
World Aquatics Sports Medicine Committee Member 2017-present.

Vanja Udovicic

Vice President

SRB
Vanja Udovičić, born on September 12, 1982, in Belgrade, Serbia, is a distinguished sports figure renowned for his contributions to both professional sports and public service.

With an illustrious 15-season career in water polo, Udovičić played in esteemed clubs such as Partizan Belgrade, Jadran Herceg Novi, Posillipo Naples, Pro Recco, Mladost Zagreb, and Radnički Kragujevac. Notably, he won two LEN Euroleague titles with Pro Recco.

In 2009, Udovičić became the captain of the Serbian national water polo team, a position he held until the end of his water polo career in 2013. He played a significant role in the success of the national team, winning numerous titles at the World and European Championships, World Cups, and World League events, including three Olympic medals - silver in 2004 and two bronze medals in 2008 and 2012.

Medals:
  • Olympic Games - one silver (2004) and two bronze medals (2008 and 2012)
  • World Championships - two gold (2005 and 2009), one silver (2011) and one bronze medal (2003)
  • European Championships - three gold (2003, 2006 and 2012), one silver (2008) and one bronze medal (2010)
  • World Cups - two gold (2006 and 2010) and one bronze medal (2002)
  • World League - seven gold (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013), one silver (2004) and one bronze medal (2009)
  • Mediterranean Games - one gold medal (2009)


With 289 games played and 360 goals scored for the national team, Udovičić left an enduring legacy in Serbian and international water polo.

He has received prestigious individual honors, including the FINA "World Player of the Year" award in 2010 and the LEN "European Player of the Year" award in the same year. Additionally, he was named MVP at the World Championship in 2009 (Rome), European Championship in 2010 (Zagreb), FINA World Cup in 2010 (Oradea), and LEN Euroleague Final Four in 2010 (Naples).

Transitioning to public service, Udovičić served as the Minister of Youth and Sports of Serbia from 2013 to 2022. Under his leadership, Serbian sports achieved remarkable success, marked by a notable increase in medals and outstanding accomplishments. His tenure also saw the advancement of youth politics, showcasing an enhanced dedication to empowering and involving the younger generation in sports and community initiatives.

As Minister of Youth and Sports, he presided over key initiatives, including the Fund For Young Talents and the Youth Council. He also served as the Government Representative of Serbia in the Governing Board of The Regional Youth Cooperation Office, contributing to regional cooperation and collaboration.

He was a member of the Council for Public Administration Reform, the Population Policy Council, and the Council for Innovational Entrepreneurship and Informational Technologies of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. He was also a key member of the Ministerial Team tasked with analyzing existing legal solutions related to issues and interventions in cases of peer violence.

Udovičić made significant contributions to sports organization, serving as President and Vice President of organizing committees for numerous major sports events, including the European Water Polo Championship, European Athletics Championship, Belgrade Marathon, International Bicycle Race through Serbia, European Karate Championship, Euroleague Final Four basketball tournaments, European Championship in kayaking and canoeing, World Athletics Championship, World Wrestling Championship, Women’s European Volleyball Championship, Women’s European Basketball Championship, and more.

He holds the degree of Engineer of Organizational Sciences from the University of Belgrade and is fluent in English and Italian.

Camelia Potec

Bureau Member

ROU

Graeme Marchbank

Bureau Member

GBR
Graeme Marchbank has had an extensive career in sports governance. In addition to his position on the European Aquatics Bureau he serves as a Director on the board of Aquatics Great Britain and has been the chair of the board of Scottish Swimming since 2018. Prior to this he served 8 years as an independent Director on the board of Sport Scotland, Scotland's national agency for sport, was a Director of Sports Scotland's trust company and was an advisor to the University of Stirling.

Graeme's professional background includes wide experience in sports marketing and sponsorship, notably at the world's leading premium drinks company Diageo, where he has held various senior roles including Head of Global Sponsorship. In this role he led the delivery of Johnnie Walker's sponsorship of the Ryder Cup, the commercial management of Smirnoff's sponsorship of Manchester United and recently secured Guinness's partnership with the Premier League. Prior to joining Diageo, he was Director of Tour Operations for the Ladies European Tour with tour wide responsibilities including the Solheim Cup where he was a voting member of its organising committee.

He is married with 2 children and lives in rural Scotland, enjoying the outdoors, golf, weightlifting...and a pint of the world's finest beer, Guinness!

Norbert Madaras

Bureau Member

The current President of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation can look back to an illustrious career as a water polo player. He is a two-time Olympic and two-time world champion, who played 300 matches in the Hungarian national team and won the Champions League four times with Italian giant Pro Recco.

He was a competitive swimmer until aged 13, so switched water polo unusually lately, but his first-choice sport equipped him with a clean swimming technique and unmatchable speed which let him stay in the pool as a pro player for almost three decades. The left-handed winger made his big-time debut in the national team at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona and became the country’s hero by scoring two decisive goals in the extra-time of the final against Italy.

He went on winning two Olympic golds in the following years, as well as World Championship medals, five European Championship medals and World League trophies. After the Athens Games he joined Recco where he spent the next ten seasons and played an active role in boosting Europe’s top club’s silverware. In 2013 he helped the newly shaped national side to close a stunning run at the Worlds with a gold medal, thus became the first Hungarian male player in history who had two world titles under his belt (he was the only one who had been part of the show in 2003 and 2013 – his presence as the team-leader in Fukuoka may have had a lucky impact on the national team this year as Hungary managed to add another gold, as it’s become a tradition in the years ending in 3).

In 2014, he returned home, and finally, at the age of 36, he became Hungarian champion with Szolnok (something he missed with his previous clubs, losing five straight finals). He finished his career with Ferencvaros, helping the club to return to the top at home in 2018 (after 1989), as well as claiming back-to-back Euro Cup titles. At the age of 39, he was still instrumental in FTC’s victories, scoring vital goals both in the Euro Cup ties and in the championship finals.

Once retired, he took over the presidency of the water polo club, and right in his first season in charge Ferencvaros reached the top by winning the 2019 Champions League. Under his tenure the team turned into a formidable force both at home and at the European stage (finished on the podium in all three finished editions of the Champions League). In 2020 he was elected Vice-President of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation and last November he became the President with a unanimous support of the general assembly.

He is father of two – both his sons are in his footsteps as they started as swimmers but now, of course, both play age-group water polo –, speaks English and Italian fluently, and still barely miss to swim 2-3-4000 metres a couple of times in a week

Fernando Carpena

Bureau Member

ESP
Born in Palma Mallorca, (Spain) 1955.
Graduated with Law Degree, Universidad Complutense, Madrid.

Swimmer and Water Polo player 1969-1981, participating in national leagues.

President of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) since 2008.

Member of the Bureau of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

President of COLAN (Latin American Swimming Confederation) 2013-2018.

COMEN Bureau Member as Member, Treasurer and Vice-president since 2009.

World Aquatics Bureau Member and Liaison to the Coaches Commission 2013-2017.
World Aquatics Bureau member.

European Aquatics Bureau Member and WP Women liaison 2012-2016.
European Aquatics Vice-president and WP Women liaison 2016-2020.
European Aquatics Treasurer 2020-2021.

Co-President of the Organizing Committee of World Aquatics Swimming World Championships Barcelona-2013.
President Organizing Committee European Aquatics European Water Polo Championships Barcelona 2018.

Ewen A Cameron

Bureau Member

SUI
I was born on June 7, 1960 in Usk, South Wales, United Kingdom. My father is a British citizen, my mother was originally Dutch. In 1966 our family moved to Switzerland, where I received my primary and secondary education. I studied medicine at Basel University, graduating in 1985.

My thesis: "Conconi test for swimmers - A new way to evaluate performance capacity and to plan training", was accepted in March 1990. In 1994 I received my specialist accreditation as an Orthopaedic and Trauma surgeon. After a Fellowship Knee and Ankle surgery in Melbourne in 1994 and a position as senior registrar at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1995 I returned to Switzerland and after further hospital jobs as a consultant went into private practice in 2001.
Now I am a consultant at the Privatklinik Obach and the Medical Director of that clinic.

I am married to Ildiko, née Ruttkay, we have 3 children.

I had a brief career as a swimmer of national level, took up coaching in 1978, judging the same year and served my club first as technical director, later as president. In 1984 I became president of a regional federation and in 1988 the official team physician of the national swimming team.

I served as regional president a total of 20 years for two different regions and as CMO for 25 years, accompanying the teams to European and World Long and Short Course Championships, in total 13 times.
In 1993, 2001 and 2009 I also acted as Head of Delegation. In 2004 I was member of the Swiss Olympic Medical Team in Athens.
I was active in coaches’ education at our National Sports School for well over 20 years.

My wife and I coached and trained at clubs from 1985 onwar ds. In 1991 our swimmer, Urs Kohlhaas, qualified for the 2nd European Open Water Championships in Terracina, where he won the bronze medal over 25 k. Two years later he finished 5th in Slapy.

My two older children took up swimming and won a combined 10 national titles, setting several national age group records. Both swam internationally.

In 2011 I was appointed a member of the European Aquatics Medical Committee, which I served until 2016. I acted as a medical delegate at the EC 2012 in Debrecen, EC 2014 in Berlin and EC 2016 in London. In 2012 I was engaged in the OW EC in Piombino and in 2013 in Balatonfüred, 2014 in Hoorn and 2015 in Eilat I was on duty for the OW LEN cup. In 2015 I organized and hosted a European Aquatics Medical Committee meeting in Zürich. In September 2016 I was elected Co-President of the Swiss Swimming Federation, together with Bartolo Consolo and re-elected for another 4 years in April 2022.

Since 2017 I am a member of the World Aquatics National Federations Relations Committee.

Rokur I Jakupsstovu

Bureau Member

FRO
Education

Production Engineer (Transport Technology & Logistics) – DTU Helsingør (DEN) 1998.
Elite Coach (Swimming) – Danmarks Trænerskole Aalborg (DEN) 2001.
World Aquatics Level 3 Senior Coach – SSÍ Reykjavík (ISL) 2019.

Work experience

Quality coordinator/consultant at VIT sp/f, Tórshavn (FAR) 1998-2000.
Head Swim Coach at HS, Tórshavn (FAR) 2001-2002.
Accountant at Miðstøðin, Tórshavn (FAR) 2002-2004.
IT Consultant (ERP systems) at Formula P/F, Tórshavn (FAR) 2004-present.


Aquatics experience
Swim coach since 1998, part-time and full-time, since 2009 mainly as a substitute.
Owner/administrator of swim sites (Faroese and English) since 2007.
FAR federation board member since 2009, president since 2014.
European Aquatics Press/Media Committee member since 2016.
Nordic Swimming Federation Chairperson since 2021.
Extensive experience as TV commentator and since 2020 live stream producer.


Personal

Born in 1971. Married, two daughters and two sons.

Pia Johansen

Bureau Member

DEN
Education

Cand. Merc. Finance, Aalborg University – Economy and business administration, Finance.

Employment History

2020 - Commercial Project Manager at Eurowind Energy, Hobro Denmark.
2015 – 2020: Team Manager at Eurowind Energy, Hobro Denmark.
2005 – 2015: Team Manager at LMO, Aarhus.
1998 – 2004: Tax Auditor at Public Municipality, Silkeborg.

Volunteer Positions in Sport

2021 - President of the Danish Swimming Federation.
2018 - President of Silkeborg Swimming Club.
2011 – 2018: Vice President of Silkeborg Swimming Club.

Milos Mracevic

Bureau Member

MNE
Education

Master Studies (current) – Economic University of Montenegro – “Leadership in Sport.“
American College of Management and Technology, Dubrovnik, Croatia - Division of RIT Rochester, NY. Associate degree, May 2005. Bachelor degree, May 2007. Manager in Economics.
University for Sport Management Belgrade – Bachelor degree May 2006 – Sport Manager.

Work Experience

MNE water polo and swimming federation manager, May 2007 – September 2012.
Swimming and water polo club Jadran – director, September 2012 – present .
Swimming pool Herceg Novi – director, July 2012 – present.

Experience

National NF and NOC manager for 2 Olympic Games – Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016.
Managing Director – World Aquatics Water Polo World League–Super Final, Podgorica, June 2009.
Manager MNE NF – World Championship Rome 2008.
Manager MNE NF – European WP Championships Malaga 2008, Zagreb 2010.
Manager of 2 EU projects related to young and youth swimmers and water polo players

Arno Pajek

Bureau Member

AUT

Liam Tancock

Bureau Member

GBR
Email: liamtancock@europeanaquatics.eu
Olympian / World Champion / World Record Holder

European Aquatics Bureau Member 2022 - Present
Chairman of the Athletes Committee 2022 - Present
Chairman European Aquatics Academy Athletes Committee 2024 – Present
Technical Swimming Committee Member 2024 - Present

Aquatics GB International Influence Group 2019 – Present
UK Anti-Doping Athlete's Commission Member 2018 – 2020
The British Olympic Association (BOA) Athletes’ Commission Member 2018 - 2021

Director Swimzi / Superbobble 2015 – Present
Honorary Freeman - City of Exeter. UK
Husband to Caitlin, Father to Rory
Lover of all sports

Marco Troll

Vice President

GER
Police Chief Inspector with different positions in the German police force. Retired since October 2021.

Competitor in the sport of swimming.
Technical director in the swimming club in Freiburg/Germany.
Licensing as a swimming and waterpolo coach.
Licensed to referee in swimming.

World Aquatics certified swimming referee.

President of the “Baden Swimming Association.“
President of the German Swimming Association.