Any big sports event like the Olympics wouldn’t be possible without a governing head on top. Although the organization requires a major team to carry out all the functions smoothly, a decision-making role carries the utmost importance. As of now, the President of the International Olympic Committee won’t be changed until 2025.

So, while the position is still unchanged, it will be helpful to learn more about the man behind the IOC since 2013, Thomas Bach. The former athlete is now in the executive chair and his journey from inside the arena to governing it may inspire you.

Bach’s early life and sports achievements

Thomas Bach was born in Wurzburg, Germany on December 29th, 1953. The retired athlete eventually learned to speak French, English, and Spanish apart from the official tongue of his motherland. He went on to pursue and become a Doctor of Law from the University of Wurzburg and graduated in 1983, but various adventures came in between.

Thomas Bach honed his skills in foil fencing. He became the German national junior foil champion in 1971 and won bronze for his home at the Junior World Fencing Championships during the same year. Two years later, Bach contributed to winning the silver medal at the World Fencing Championships and secured a team gold medal in 1977 at the same event. He also secured gold for the team in 1976 during the Summer Olympics held in Montreal.

There were many such achievements for the fencer, but the last big one came in 1978 when he won the European Cup of Champions.

From presidencies to honorary doctorates: Bach’s leadership roles and related honors

After making his nation proud at different international championships, his fate eventually landed him in the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) where he was elected to be the President. He was also the Head of the Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Not to forget the time he was an Executive Board Member of the DOSB.

All of this was before he was elected to be the President of the IOC in 2013 on the 10th of September. As per the rules, a president can hold the office for two terms of four years. His presidency expired in 2021, but he was re-elected on March 10th of the same year for four more terms according to the election rules.

Upon retirement, the former fencer will be taking the Seoul Peace Prize with him as a reminder that he has served memorable tenures in the chair that he sat upon for more than a decade. Apart from this, he also earned honorary doctorates; one from Universidad Catolica de Murcia in Spain and one from the University of Tsukuba in Japan.

These achievements and medals only make up a small amount of the contribution and hard work that Thomas Bach has put in over the years as the President of the IOC. The next person in the office will have big shoes to fill.