21. January 2004  
Derbyshire / Great Britain  
Artistic Gymnastics

Eileen Langsley Receives Her Award!

Eileen Langsley (GBR)

At the FIG Congress 2002 in Athens (Greece) it was announced that Eileen Langsley (Gymnastics Photographer Extraordinaire) had been awarded with Honorary Member of the FIG.
This well deserved and exquisite award was also accompanied by an elegant Longines watch.
Due to personal health and family health problems, it was not possible to make the Award in 2003, but on Friday, 16th January John Atkinson (FIG TC President and EC Member) was able to make the Award on behalf of Prof. Bruno Grandi and the FIG at Eileen and husband Gerry’s beautiful Derbyshire home.

Eileen - successful in action for a very long time!

Eileen was delighted and wrote:
 'I am honoured and very grateful for the FIG Honorary Member Award and also my Longines watch. It was really special to receive them from people who are very close to me.'
Langsley started working officially for the FIG in 1984. She shot her first World Championships in 1978, followed by numerous International events and manifestations (European and World Championships and Olympic Games).
'Shooting the gymnastic scompetitions in Sydney was one of my best working experiences for the FIG', said Eileen.
'The conditions there were great and the Aussies terrific to work with, but best of all I felt I was getting some of the best images of my career at a time when I was getting to the end of it'.
Eileen’s incredibly artistic approach to sport in general and Gymnastics in particular , combined with knowledge and technical skills, have won her a number of top professional awards:
- in 1982 she won the AIPS/Adidas International Sports Photo competition and was a prize-winner for five consecutive years;
- In 1986 she was winner of the Sports Picture of the Year).
Above all, however, remains the unanimous recognition, love and respect, of the Gymnastics family worldwide, towards Eilleen Langsley.
Source: BAGA, Vera Atkinson