Heike Groesswang: First Female President of the IBSF

Heike Groesswang has been elected as the first female president of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, succeeding Ivo Ferriani. She brings a wealth of experience from her roles as executive director and secretary general. Groesswang defeated other qualified candidates to serve a four-year term until 2030.

Heike Groesswang of Germany has become the first female president of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, as announced on Thursday at the federation's congress in Austria. She replaces Italy's Ivo Ferriani, who held the position for 16 years.

Groesswang, 56, joined the IBSF in 2010 as executive director and advanced to secretary general two years later. She will now serve a four-year term until 2030, achieving the presidency with 27 out of 45 potential votes. Her extensive experience in sports management sets a new precedent for the organization.

The election saw Groesswang outpace other contenders such as Latvia’s Martins Dambergs, Spain’s Ander Mirambell, and Jamaica’s Nelson Christian Stokes. Previously, she served on the International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission for the 2026 Olympics and as secretary general of the Winter Olympic Federations from 2020 to 2023.