Jeannine Rinaldi, former FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics TC President, passes away

Jeannine Rinaldi (FRA), whose work as FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee President helped her discipline become part of the Olympic programme, passed away March 13 at age 96.

Born July 23, 1920, Rinaldi, who worked as a physical education teacher, was elected a member of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee in Munich (GER) in 1972. She served as TC Secretary from 1976 to 1980 under Andreina Gotta (ITA) before being elected its President, a position she held until her retirement from her FIG functions in 1988.

Under Rinaldi’s presidency, the Technical Committee worked hard to improve the Code of Points for Rhythmic Gymnastics, which helped it reach the long-held goal: the sport’s acceptance by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the Olympic programme. Rhythmic Gymnastics made its Olympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Egle Abruzzini (ITA), who served on the committee under Rinaldi’s leadership for eight years and who took over the presidency in 1988, remembers her predecessor as “a grande president.”
On behalf of the international Gymnastics family, the FIG wishes to extend its sincere condolences to Rinaldi’s family and friends, as well as the French Gymnastics Federation.