Ingmar De Vos
The shrewd diplomat who climbed from Belgian politics to the summit of global equestrian sport, modernizing its governance and expanding its reach.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Belgian sports administrator·Birthday: August 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ingmar De Vos did not follow a traditional path into the insular world of horse sports. With a background in political science, international law, and business, he first cut his teeth as an advisor in the Belgian Senate. This grounding in policy and administration proved to be his secret weapon. He entered the equestrian sphere as Secretary General of the Belgian Federation, where his organizational skills sharpened during the preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympics. His talent for structure and strategy caught the eye of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), which brought him on as Secretary General in 2011. In that role, he acted as the operational engine during a period of significant reform. Elected President in 2014, De Vos has steered the FEI with a steady, diplomatic hand, focusing on enhancing anti-doping protocols, boosting commercial appeal, and carefully navigating the complex relationship between sport, horse welfare, and national federations. His election to the International Olympic Committee further solidified his role as a key power broker in the Olympic movement.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ingmar was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ingmar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Ingmar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in 2014, leading the global governing body for horse sports.
- Spearheaded the implementation of the FEI's Clean Sport initiative, significantly overhauling its anti-doping and medication control systems.
- Elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2017.
- Served as President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), representing all summer Olympic sports federations.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed basketball coach, reflecting his broader passion for sports management beyond equestrian.
He initially pursued a career in politics, working as an attaché for the Belgian Senate before moving into sports administration.
Under his leadership, the FEI launched the 'FEI Solidarity' program to develop equestrian sport in emerging nations.
He holds an MBA in addition to his degrees in political science and international law.
“The rules exist to protect the horse; that is the foundation of everything.”
