Liston Bochette

Liston (Lin) D. Bochette III, born June 16, 1957, is an internationally recognized athlete, artist and civic leader. He participated in several Olympic Games as an athlete and administrator.

'Education:'Bold text

Bochette studied at Florida State University, the University of Puerto Rico, and was accepted at Stanford University. He collected a Bachelor's BFA degree in Fine Arts from the University of Florida; a Master's degree MA in Humanities from Inter American University; studied an ED at Inter American University and completed a PhD in Education from Pacific Western University. American University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Humanity in 2022. He has taught at Inter American University University in the field of communication and continues in education as a visiting professor at Tiffin University’s College of Sports Management and on the distance faculty for the United States Sports Academy. In 1983 he was awarded a Citation of Merit by the Senate of Puerto Rico and in 2022 appointed as a United Nations Ambassador for Peace. He is also an Eagle Scout of the BSA.

'Sports Background:'Bold text

Bochette was a Junior All American, attended the University of Florida on a Track and Field Scholarship offered to him by Olympic Coach Jimmy Carnes and was later inducted into the University's Hall of Fame. He competed internationally in the decathlon for the Puerto Rico Track and Field Team and won a gold at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games Beginning in the 1980s, he worked closely with many International Olympic Committee Members, in developing programs and projects for the Olympic Family. He participated, in various capacities, in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games—as an advocate for Olympic values; a qualified athlete Track and Field in 1984, as an official in 1988; and as a bobsleigh athlete for Puerto Rico in 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002. In 2002-2006, he served on the International Olympic Committee’s elite Athletes Commission in Switzerland. In 1999 he was unanimously elected as Secretary General of the World Olympian Association and served two terms. International Olympic Committee. In this position he led a highly successful global campaign to unite alumni athletes under the Olympic banner in order to promote Olympic values in their countries. He founded the Pan American Olympians Association in 2006 to improve fellowship among the Olympians in the hemisphere and the International Cultural Consortium for enhancing the union between sport and cultural as an educational instrument. . He was named as one of the greatest Athletes of the century in Southwest Florida by the Gannett News Press.

Bochette has served on many national and international sports federation bodies, committees, and commissions, including the United States President's Panel on Olympic Affairs. He is the founding President of the Puerto Rico National Olympians Association and assisted over one hundred countries develop their Olympians Associations. World Olympians Association Bochette founded the Puerto Rico national federations for Badminton, Canoe and Kayak. (WOA). Bochette has been an executive officer of the University of Florida Track and Field Alumni Association (UFTFAA),. Bochette also serves on the UIPM Pierre De Coubertin Committee for the promotion of Olympism and its core values.

'Art Background'Bold text:

Bochette is best known for his drawings and paintings but also works in sculpture, stained glass, film, dance, and literature. In 1992, he was awarded a Gold Medal by the President of the International Olympic Committee for Art at the Cultural Arts Festival in 1992, during the Barcelona Olympic Games. In 1996 he was named the International Sports Artist of the Year by the United States Sports Academy and later served on the institutions Board. Bochette has also served on many art, academic and civic boards He was responsible for designing and served as the Director of the Olympic sports museum in Puerto Rico and was the co-founder along with four time Olympic Gold medalist Al Oerter and Director for the Art of the Olympians. Bochette is a consulting partner for Arnold Entertainment and film productions. He is a published author for feature appearing many print and electronic magazines including the Olympic Review, Gannet New, Lee Living, Gulfshore Life. He has been the key note speaker at the International Children's Art Olympiad held in Washington DC. He holds workshops for the creative development of creativity in children and adults around the world. He has exhibited in Osaka, Monte Carlo, Athens, New York, and other major cultural capitals. His art is in a number of private collections world wide.

'Public Service:'Bold text

Bochette in concert with colleagues initiated the establishment of the Al Oerter Center for Excellence and serves on the Board of the Uncommon Friends Foundation (Thomas Edison and Henry Ford et. al). He has Chaired the Olympian Foundation since its inception. Bochette has an extended history of public service speaking at schools, universities, and professional organizations. Bochette has worked in on camera broadcast with major networks including Telemundo. He has addressed meetings at the United Nations and served as an elected official in government with distinction as an elected Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Fort Myers, Florida.