Anita DeFrantz Named to U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame

Legendary rower, Olympic icon, and trailblazer Anita DeFrantz has been selected for induction into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, Class of 2025. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made enduring contributions to sport. DeFrantz was selected in the prestigious category of Legend for her work in elevating the sport of rowing and the Olympic movement. As one of the most influential figures in Olympic history, DeFrantz has left an indelible mark on the Games and the global sports community. A pioneering leader, decorated rower, and longtime advocate for equality and inclusion, her impact continues to resonate throughout the Olympic Movement.

Legend, Icon, Trailblazer

DeFrantz made history as the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in rowing, capturing bronze in the women’s eight at the 1976 Montreal Games, the first time the event was contested at the Olympics. Her legacy includes two decades of leadership as the president of the LA84 Foundation, where she helped expand access to youth sports in Los Angeles. Under her stewardship, the foundation, created from the surplus of the 1984 Olympic Games, has invested more than $225 million in support of over 2,000 youth sports organizations.

In 1984, DeFrantz served as vice president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, which oversaw one of the most successful Games in Olympic history. She was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1986, becoming the first African American and woman to serve on the committee. Her IOC leadership roles included serving on the Executive Board in 1992 and chairing the Women and Sport Commission in 1995. In 1997, she became the first woman elected to a four-year term as IOC vice president, a position she held until 2001 and resumed in 2018 for a second term.

DeFrantz has also been a key figure in moments of Olympic advocacy. She was a vocal opponent and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. athletes in opposition to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games. That same year, she received the Olympic Order for her contributions to the movement. 

In 1999, DeFrantz received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, recognizing her achievements as an athlete and a leader. She received the 2024 NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award. She is currently president of the Tubman Truth Corp., an organization working to provide liberty and justice for all people. Also, she serves on LA 2028, the Los Angeles organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic Games.

An Indiana native, DeFrantz began rowing as an undergraduate at Connecticut College before entering graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and joining Vesper Boat Club. DeFrantz went on to captain the U.S. women's rowing team at the 1976 Olympic Games. At the same time, she began serving on the United States Olympic Committee's Board of Directors after her election to the Athletes' Advisory Committee in 1976. DeFrantz earned a B.A. from Connecticut College and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The two-time Olympian competed on the U.S. National Team from 1975-1980, winning a bronze medal in the eight at the 1976 Olympics and a silver medal in the four with coxswain at the 1978 World Championships.

An Inspiration to Generations of Athletes

As the Olympic Movement continues to strive for greater equity and inclusion, especially looking ahead to the LA28 Games, Anita DeFrantz’s enduring legacy will continue to inspire generations of athletes and changemakers worldwide.

“On behalf of USRowing, I want to congratulate Anita DeFrantz on this extraordinary and well-deserved honor,” said Amanda Kraus, CEO of USRowing. “Her induction is a testament not only to her trailblazing accomplishments but to the enduring impact she’s had on our sport. 

“I want to personally thank Anita for being a role model and a beacon of belief. During my time with Row New York, I’ll never forget the rainy day she visited a tiny boathouse in Queens as we were just getting started as an organization—she stood on the dock with a huge smile on her face. She believed in what we were building before we fully believed it ourselves.”

“The rowing world—and truly, the world—is better because of Anita DeFrantz. Congratulations, Anita!”

DeFrantz joins rower Jack Kelly Sr. in the Hall of Fame. Jack Kelly Sr., the first Olympic rower to win three Olympic gold medals, is also the father of actress Grace Kelly.  

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be officially inducted during a special ceremony on Saturday, July 12, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The weekend will also feature the 2025 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum's Fan Festival, which takes place July 10-13 in Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA.