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.
Early life[edit]
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]
Career[edit]
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]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jimenez, Pepo (February 11, 2019). "La mujer que inspira a campeones paralímpicos". elpais.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ a b "Emigrar a Andorra para estudiar en castellano". larazon.es (in Spanish). July 4, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ ""Performances now on a par with able-bodied skiers," says Mestre". paralympic.org. April 10, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Three individuals to receive Paralympic Order in Mexico City". paralympic.org. March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Jordi Carbonell nuevo Director Técnico del equipo de esquí de la FEDC". nevasport.com (in Spanish). September 12, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Sylvana Mestre recibe la Orden Paralímpica, el máximo reconocimiento en el deporte de personas con discapacidad". boletinparalimpicos.technosite.es (in Spanish). March 14, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Paralympian and Technical Committee Chairperson Selected for WADA Committees". paralympic.org. November 28, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "L'Agència Mundial Antidopatge aprova la nova versió del Codi Mundial". fceh.cat (in Catalan). December 27, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK". olympic.org. June 1, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "IPC's Mestre honoured on International Women's Day". paralympic.org. March 8, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Alpine skiing announces new Sport Technical Committee". paralympic.org. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Silvana Mestre guardonada amb el V Premi Col·laborador i Esport Pitu Figueras 2017". fceh.cat (in Spanish). May 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- ^ "Sylvana Mestre, guardonada amb el prestigiós Premi Dona i Esport". fceh.cat (in Spanish). May 29, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2019.