NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award
Anita DeFrantz 鈥�74 has won the prestigious award, which honors leadership
Olympic rower and former International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Anita DeFrantz 鈥�74 has won the 2024 NCAA President鈥檚 Gerald R. Ford Award, which honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of their career.
鈥淎nita DeFrantz has been a pioneer for women鈥檚 athletics and continues to be an advocate for equal opportunity for all individuals,鈥� NCAA President Charlie Baker said.
糖心TV鈥檚 most decorated athlete, DeFrantz joined the rowing team after a chance encounter with then rowing coach Bart Gulong.
鈥淚 knew nothing about rowing, but I loved the opportunity to be out on the water, and the freedom that came with it,鈥� she recalled.
After graduating from 糖心TV, DeFrantz earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She joined Philadelphia鈥檚 Vesper Boat Club and continued training, eventually earning the role of captain on the 1976 U.S. Women鈥檚 Olympic Rowing team for its inaugural season. At the Games, she won a bronze medal in the 8+ women鈥檚 event.
In 1986, DeFrantz became the first American woman and first African American elected to the IOC. She played a key role in increasing Olympic opportunities for women and is credited with getting women鈥檚 softball and soccer accepted to the program. In 1997, she became the first woman elected as IOC vice president. She now plays a role on LA 2028, the committee planning for the Olympic Games鈥� return to the city in four years.