Germn Rieckehoff Sampayo

Personal

Vocation

Puerto Rican editor and sportswriter who was president of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee. He became involved in the Puerto Rican Olympic in 1963. He founded the Equestrian Federation of PR Joined the Olympic Committee, he also served as an international judge Equestrian sports. He led the national equestrian team at the 1975 Pan American Games and 1979 Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976. He resigned in 1980. In the 60s he collaborated with the Organizing Committee of the X Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico in 1966 . He was secretary and vice COPUR 1968 in 1969. In 1972 he was head of mission at the Olympics in Munich. He was President of the Organizing Committee of the Pan American Games in San Juan from 1972 to 1976. In February 1977 he was elected President of the Olympic Committee of PR and became the first Puerto Rican to be a member of the International Olympic Committee and in 1978 he was the president of the Central American Sports Organization and the Caribbean. (COPECABE). It was notable for defending sovereignty sports. On one occasion, he stated: "Puerto Rico participates with its own personality." The tenacity of Germán was very important in every work he did. It was he who devised the creation of Olympic Hostel in Salinas. He has received several awards and honours, such as the recognition given to it by the International Equestrian Federation and others. In his honour the Legislature Islander named "German Rieckehoff Sampayo Medal" award given to this body to sport excellence. He was a pillar of the Puerto Rican Olympic and sports advocate of Puerto Rican sovereignty. He died on 2 September 1997. Link to Wikipedia biography