Sylvana Mestre | |
---|---|
Born | 1956 (age 67–68)
Barcelona, Spain |
Known for | Chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee |
Awards | Paralympic Order |
Sylvana Mestre (born 1956) is a former Chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee. She was awarded the Paralympic Order in 2015.
Mestre was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1956. [1] She considers herself Catalan and has taught her daughters the language. [2] Mestre admitted to having a difficult time learning both Catalan and Spanish in school after her family moved to Puigcerdà. [2]
After her husband's death, Mestre began working as a guide, and later a trainer, for children with disabilities. [1] She first participated in the Paralympic Games during the 1998 Winter Paralympics as a guide for visually impaired skiers. [3] From there, she was appointed a member of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee from 2002 to 2006 before being elected chairperson. [4] While serving in her role as chairperson, Mestre co-founded a Spain-based program called Play and Train which provides disabled athletes a place to practice, learn and train [4] and served as the Alpine Skiing Technical Director for the Spanish Sports Federation for the Blind until 2010. [5] [6] She was also elected to the World Anti-Doping Agency Education Committee. [7] While on this committee, Mestre helped introduce stricter measures against doping such as increasing the sanction ban from two to four years. [8]
In 2012, Mestre was awarded the “Spirit of Sport Award” for her commitment and humanitarian spirit by the Global Association of International Sports Federations [9] and in 2013 was awarded the "2013 International Women’s Day Recognition Award" by the International Paralympic Committee Women in Sport Committee. [10] After the 2014 Sport Technical Committee election, Mestre was replaced as chairperson and undertook a new role overseeing development and youth programmes. [11] In 2015, she was awarded the Paralympic Order, the highest award of the International Paralympic Committee. [4] In 2017, Mestre was the recipient of the Pitu Figueras Prize by the Winter Sports Catalan Federation. [12] In 2018, Mestre was honoured with the "Mireia Tapiador Prize for the promotion of sport" by the City Council of Barcelona. [13]
Sylvana Mestre | |
---|---|
Born | 1956 (age 67–68)
Barcelona, Spain |
Known for | Chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee |
Awards | Paralympic Order |
Sylvana Mestre (born 1956) is a former Chairperson of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee. She was awarded the Paralympic Order in 2015.
Mestre was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1956. [1] She considers herself Catalan and has taught her daughters the language. [2] Mestre admitted to having a difficult time learning both Catalan and Spanish in school after her family moved to Puigcerdà. [2]
After her husband's death, Mestre began working as a guide, and later a trainer, for children with disabilities. [1] She first participated in the Paralympic Games during the 1998 Winter Paralympics as a guide for visually impaired skiers. [3] From there, she was appointed a member of the International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee from 2002 to 2006 before being elected chairperson. [4] While serving in her role as chairperson, Mestre co-founded a Spain-based program called Play and Train which provides disabled athletes a place to practice, learn and train [4] and served as the Alpine Skiing Technical Director for the Spanish Sports Federation for the Blind until 2010. [5] [6] She was also elected to the World Anti-Doping Agency Education Committee. [7] While on this committee, Mestre helped introduce stricter measures against doping such as increasing the sanction ban from two to four years. [8]
In 2012, Mestre was awarded the “Spirit of Sport Award” for her commitment and humanitarian spirit by the Global Association of International Sports Federations [9] and in 2013 was awarded the "2013 International Women’s Day Recognition Award" by the International Paralympic Committee Women in Sport Committee. [10] After the 2014 Sport Technical Committee election, Mestre was replaced as chairperson and undertook a new role overseeing development and youth programmes. [11] In 2015, she was awarded the Paralympic Order, the highest award of the International Paralympic Committee. [4] In 2017, Mestre was the recipient of the Pitu Figueras Prize by the Winter Sports Catalan Federation. [12] In 2018, Mestre was honoured with the "Mireia Tapiador Prize for the promotion of sport" by the City Council of Barcelona. [13]