Celebrating Excellence: Announcing the 2025 Inductees to the International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame

The IDBF is delighted to announce its 2025 inductees to the International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame, celebrating the outstanding achievements of individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of dragon boating. Whether through their mastery on the water or their efforts behind the scenes, these honourees have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the growth and success of the sport, inspiring paddlers across the globe.

Congratulations to the 2025 International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame Inductees:

Sports Developer

• Matthew Smith (Canada)
• Claudio Schermi (Italy)
• Barbara Michaels (USA)

Coach

• Hou Hung-Chang 侯鴻章 (Chinese Taipei)

Athletes

• Colleen Middendorf (USA)
• Christopher Alexandrou (Australia)

The IDBF Hall of Fame Awards Night will take place in July during the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany. This exciting event will honour the inductees and their incredible accomplishments, shining a spotlight on their lasting legacy in the dragon boating community.

Congratulations to the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees!

For more information about the Hall of Fame and past inductees, please visit https://www.dragonboat.sport/about-us/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-inductees/.

About the IDBF
The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is the global governing body for dragon boat racing. Founded in 1991, in Hong Kong China, it oversees and promotes the sport of dragon boat paddling across the world. With a mission to foster unity, friendship, and fair competition, the IDBF organises multiple international world championships, sets rules and standards for dragon boat racing and equipment, and has a membership base of over 80 national federations.

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Know someone worthy of an IDBF International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame Award? Nominations for 2025 are now open! The IDBF recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the people who have made a significant contribution to the sport of dragon boat. Whether it is their excellence on the water or their efforts behind the scene, they have demonstrated their commitment to building our sport and inspired others to achieve their best.

Nominations are now open for 2025

Key Dates

• Nominations open – December 2024
• Nominations close – 31 January 2025
• Review of nominations and shortlisting – February 2025
• Hall of Fame winners announced – March/April 2025
• Awards will be presented in July 2025 at the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany

How to Apply

• Download the IDBF Hall of Fame Candidacy Requirements and Selection Process (PDF)
• Complete the IDBF Hall of Fame Nomination Form 2025 (Word)
• Submit the completed Nomination Form with supporting documents to: halloffame@dragonboat.sport by 31 January 2025

See Hall of Fame or further details.

Enquiries
Chair, IDBF Hall of Fame Selection Panel
Email: halloffame@dragonboat.sport

The post 2025 IDBF Hall of Fame – nominations now open appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.

The International Dragon Boat Federation is thrilled to announce the inductees to the IDBF Hall of Fame for 2023.

Zhang Faqiang – Developer Category

• Former Chairman of the International Dragon Boat Federation, the Asian Dragon Boat Federation, and the Chinese Dragon Boat Association.
• Secured inclusion of dragon boat as an official competition event in numerous important multi-sport games in Asia including Asian Olympic Games.
• Central to the successful campaign in 2007 to have the International Dragon Boat Federation accepted as a full member of Sport Accord

Dr. Raymond Ma – Developer Category

• Involved in dragon boating in Hong Kong since 1988 and was previously member of the Hong Kong National team
• Honorary President of Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA) since 2021, the President from 2017 to 2021 and the Chairman from 2009 to 2017
• Elected as Vice President of IDBF in 2012 and in 2014 he became the Senior Vice President
• Raymond is an invaluable part of the management group at World Championships

Alan van Caubergh – Developer Category

• Officiated at every championship since the late nineties
• Member of the IDBF Competition & Technical Commission and for many years managed the role of Equipment Secretariat approving specification with manufacturers for boats
• Delivered many officials’ courses throughout the world and assisted with exams and training at World Championships
• Treasurer of the European Dragon Boat Federation and the International Dragon Boat Federation. He is currently an EDBF Honorary President and member of the IDBF Executive Committee

Andrea Dillon – Coach Category

• Leader and motivator in Dragon Boat for over 40 years including coaching at nine of the 13 IDBF World Championships
• Established one of the first Dragon Boat Clubs(False Creek Racing and Canoe Club 1985) in North America and the first Women’s Crew in Canada
• Facilitates Dragon Boat Canada’s Coach Certification courses and is a contributor and committee member overseeing the revision of the DBC Coach Accreditation program

Dr. Robert McNamara – Coach Category

• Has coached and paddled in every IDBF World Championship since its inception in 1995
• His teams have won 148 medals, including 38 gold medals at IDBF World Championships
• Has chaired the International Dragon Boat Federation Medical Science and Sports Commission and previously chaired this body

The International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame aims to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the men and women who have made a significant contribution to the sport of dragon boat.

The post IDBF Announces 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.

Know someone worthy for an IDBF Hall of Fame Award? Nominations for 2023 are now open! The International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the people who have made a significant contribution to the sport of dragon boat. Whether it is their excellence on the water or their efforts behind the scene, they have demonstrated their commitment to building our sport and inspired others to achieve their best.

Nominations are now open for 2023

Key Dates

• Nominations open – October 2022
• Nominations close – 15 January 2023
• Review of nominations and shortlisting – February 2023
• List of finalists announced – March 2023
• Hall of Fame winners announced – August 2023
  (Awards will be presented in person at the 2023 WDBRC in Pattaya, Thailand)

How to Apply

• Download the IDBF Hall of Fame Nomination Information Sheet (PDF)
• Complete the IDBF Hall of Fame Nomination Form 2023 (Word)
• Submit the completed Nomination Form with supporting documents to: halloffame@dragonboat.sport by 15 January 2023

See Hall of fame or further details.

Enquiries
Chair, IDBF Hall of Fame Selection Panel
Email: halloffame@dragonboat.sport

The post 2023 IDBF Hall of Fame – nominations now open appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.

Read the December 2021 Issue of Longzhou News.

• Message from Mike
• How the IDBF began
• IDBF30 Celebrations
• 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees
• 18th Ordinary Congress – part 1
• CCWC2022 Bulletin 1
• Help support paradragons PADs team rebuild

Got news and updates you want to share?
Send your contributions to idbfnews@dragonboat.sport

Subscribe to Longzhou and other official IDBF news.

The post Longzhou Newsletter December 2021 (Issue 5 Volume 4) appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to Tuesday 31 August 2021

Thank you to everyone who have sent their nominations in, we have received quite a few in the last week. The deadline for nominations has been extended to allow people more time to finalise their submissions.

Key Dates

• Nominations open – March
• Nominations close – 31 August
• Review of nominations and shortlisting – September
• List of finalists announced – October
• Hall of Fame winners announced (online celebration event) – November
  (Awards will be presented in person at the 2022 CCWC event in Sarasota, USA)

How to Apply

• Download the Hall of Fame Information sheet (PDF)
• Complete the Nomination Form (Word)
• Submit the completed Nomination Form with supporting documents to: halloffame@dragonboat.sport by 31 August 2021

About the IDBF Hall of Fame

As part of the celebrations in 2021 to mark the 30th Anniversary of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), we are proudly inaugurating the IDBF Hall of Fame. The International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the men and women who have made a significant contribution to the sport of dragon boat. Whether it is their excellence on the water or their efforts behind the scene, they have demonstrated their commitment to building our sport and inspired others to achieve their best.

See Hall of Fame or further details.

Enquiries
Chair, IDBF Hall of Fame Selection Panel
Email: halloffame@dragonboat.sport

The post IDBF Hall of Fame – nomination deadline extended appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.

As part of the celebrations in 2021 to mark the 30th Anniversary of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), we are proudly inaugurating the IDBF Hall of Fame. The International Dragon Boat Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the men and women who have made a significant contribution to the sport of dragon boat. Whether it is their excellence on the water or their efforts behind the scene, they have demonstrated their commitment to building our sport and inspired others to achieve their best.

Nominations are now open for 2021

Key Dates

• Nominations open – March
• Nominations close – 31 July
• Review of nominations and shortlisting – September
• List of finalists announced – October
• Hall of Fame winners announced – November
  (At the World Nations Championships celebration dinner in Hong Kong)

How to Apply

• Download the IDBF Hall of Fame Nomination Information Sheet (PDF)
• Complete the IDBF Hall of Fame Nomination Form 2021 (Word)

Submit the completed Nomination Form with supporting documents to: halloffame@dragonboat.sport by 31 July 2021

See Hall of FameHall of fame or further details.

Enquiries
Chair, IDBF Hall of Fame Selection Panel
Email: halloffame@dragonboat.sport

The post IDBF Hall of Fame – nominations now open appeared first on International Dragon Boat Federation.