EOA Olympic Person of the Month

The Olympic Person of the Month is a tribute initiated by the European Olympic Academies in September 2021 to honour individuals who embody the Olympic spirit – on and beyond the field of play.

Since its launch, the EOA has featured a diverse selection of inspiring personalities, chosen through internal discussions within the EOA Head Office. Each portrait stands as a meaningful recognition of Olympic values in action. Alongside the current honouree, you can also explore the full archive on this page – we invite you to browse and discover the remarkable stories of past Olympic Persons of the Month.
If you have a suggestion for a future Olympic Person of the Month, feel free to share it with us using the comment field below.

Olympic Person of the Month August 2025

Roger Bannister

Roger Bannister was the first man to break the four-minute mile in 1954, a feat that changed athletics forever. Beyond the track, he built an outstanding career as a neurologist and academic, uniting sporting excellence with intellectual achievement.

With this tribute, the EOA honours him as Olympic Person of the Month August 2025. His legacy as both a pioneer of athletics and a scientist continues to inspire generations.

Check out the portrait
Roger Bannister – First man to break the four-minute mile, pioneering neurologist, and symbol of courage and intellect, honoured posthumously as EOA Olympic Person of the Month August 2025

Previous Olympic Persons of the Month

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Laura Dahlmeier – Olympic gold medallist, world champion, and advocate for fair play and sustainability, honoured posthumously as EOA Olympic Person of the Month July 2025

Laura Dahlmeier

Olympic gold medallist and inspiring mountaineer. Celebrating the life and legacy of Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier.
Olympic Person of the Month - Katerina Stefanidi is a Pole Vault champion, Olympic gold medallist, and world champion. Beyond her athletic achievements, she advocates for the mental health and well-being of young people.

Katerina Stefanidi

Katerina Stefanidi is a Pole Vault champion, Olympic gold medallist, and world champion. Beyond her athletic achievements, she advocates for the mental health and well-being of young people.
Roger Lespagnard - EOA Olympic Person of the Month: Roger Lespagnard, a renowned athlete, technical director, and coach from Belgium has left a significant mark on his respective fields.

Roger Lespagnard

Roger Lespagnard, a renowned athlete, technical director, and coach from Belgium has left a significant mark on his respective fields.
Micheline Ostermeyer - EOA Olympic Person of the Month: While being the first French woman to win an Olympic medal, which she achieved at the 1948 London Olympics, she was a dedicated musician both performing and teaching the piano until her death in 2001.

Micheline Ostermeyer

While being the first French woman to win an Olympic medal, which she achieved at the 1948 London Olympics, she was a dedicated musician both performing and teaching the piano until her death in 2001.
EOA Olympic Person of the Month: Sergii Bubka is a name synonymous with excellence in the world of pole vaulting. This Ukrainian has left an indelible mark on the sport and is widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time.

Sergii Bubka

Sergii Bubka is a name synonymous with excellence in the world of pole vaulting. This Ukrainian has left an indelible mark on the sport and is widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time.
EOA Olympic Person of the Month: Aauri Bokesa’s exceptional achievements in sport, combined with her efforts to help children, make her a true Olympic Person of the month and an inspiration to athletes and social workers alike.

AAURI BOKESA

Aauri Bokesa’s exceptional achievements in sport, combined with her efforts to help children, make her a true Olympic Person of the month and an inspiration to athletes and social workers alike.
EOA Olympic Person of the Month: Joseph “Josy” Barthel was an exceptional Olympic 1500m champion, sports administrator and politician from Luxembourg.

Josy Barthel

Joseph “Josy” Barthel was an exceptional Olympic 1500m champion, sports administrator and politician from Luxembourg.
Rosi Mittermeier - EOA Olympic Person of the Month: Introducing Rosi Mittermaier-Neureuther, also known as Gold-Rosi, a legendary German skier. She won two gold medals and a silver at the 1976 Winter Olympics, captivating the world with her remarkable skills.

Rosi Mittermaier

Introducing Rosi Mittermaier-Neureuther, also known as Gold-Rosi, a legendary German skier. She won two gold medals and a silver at the 1976 Winter Olympics, captivating the world with her remarkable skills.

Ilham Zakiyev

Meet the Azerbaijani Paralympic Judoka, Ilham Zakiyev, whose extraordinary journey from a disabled veteran of the Karabakh war to a decorated champion showcases the triumph of determination.

Anne d’Ieteren

Anne d’Ieteren is known for her outstanding achievements in both the Olympic and the Paralympic Movement in her native country Belgium…

Fanny Blankers-Koen

With her amazing achievements, the Dutch track and field athlete Fanny Blankers-Koen broke barriers and the stigma that age and motherhood were factors that caused limitation to being successful in women’s sport…

Paavo Nurmi

Famous all over the world, Nurmi became an unending source of national pride for the newly independent Finland winning nine gold medals and three silver medals in running competitions during the Olympic Games of the 1920s…

Nadia Comaneci

Nadia Comaneci was breaking Olympic world records in the sport of gymnastics. At age 14, the Romanian athlete became the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympic Games…

Valeriy Sushkevych

Valeriy Sushkevych is one of the resilient individuals who has shown strength for the people of Ukraine, and persons with disabilities. He made miracles happen for the Paralympic athletes of Ukraine in the Beijing Paralympics 2022…

Claudia Pechstein

With her current participation in the Beijing Olympics at the age of 49, Claudia Pechstein sets the records for oldest female Winter Olympian of all time and most participations in Winter Olympic Games as a woman…

Hermann Maier

At the 1998 Winter Olympics, Maier suffered a near fatal crash in which he partially landed on his head. Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, Maier made an incredible return to competition just three days later and won 2 gold medals at the Nagano games…

Bibian Mentel-Spee

During an illustrious career, Mentel-Spee won three Paralympic gold medals and 5 World Championship gold medals in para snowboarding events. The Dutch athlete had been due to compete at the 2002 Winter Olympics before undergoing a leg amputation to treat bone cancer…

Emil Zatopek

Emil Zatopek is widely recognised as one of the greatest runners in Olympic history. He is best known for winning three gold medals at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 and for pioneering gruelling interval training methods…

Maria Gorokhovskaya

The Soviet Ukrainian Maria Gorokhovskaya represented the first USSR gymnastics team to ever compete at the Olympics and also became the first female athlete to be awarded 7 medals at a single Olympics at Helsinki in 1952…

Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe is one of the most decorated and acclaimed athletes in Olympic history. The British middle-distance runner won four Olympic medals, including back-to-back 1,500m gold in Moscow and LA in the 1980s, plus two Olympic silver medals…

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