WOA Congratulates Four Newest Members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission

19 | 8 | 2016

The World Olympians Association has congratulated the newly elected members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. Olympians Britta Heidemann  (Germany, Fencing), Seung-Min Ryu (Korea, Table Tennis), Daniel Gyurta  (Hungary, Swimming) and Yelena Isinbayeva, (Russia, Athletics) were elected to the Commission following a vote by their peers at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The new members will serve a term of eight years.

The announcement of the new members follows the election of WOA Board Member Angela Ruggiero as new Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission ahead of the start of the Games.

The four new members will replace outgoing members Claudia Bokel, Dae Sung Moon, Alexander Popov and Yumilka Ruiz Luaces, who were elected to the Athletes’ Commission at the Beijing Games in 2008 for a term of eight years each.

WOA President, Joël Bouzou, said:

“The World Olympians Association sends its heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Each Olympian has earned their right to represent their fellow athletes through their commitment to upholding the Olympic values, their determination to serve the best interests of athletes everywhere and their desire to act as role models to others around the world.

"I am glad that Yelena Isinbayeva was elected since she can call herself a clean athlete, which has also been illustrated by the support athletes have given to her.

“We look forward to working closely with the new members when they take up their posts after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and continuing our strong relationship with the IOC Athletes’ Commission.”

Biographies of all the candidates can be found here.

The athletes will be joined on the Commission by the WOA’s new IOC Athletes’ Commission representative, WOA Treasurer and Executive Committee member, Patrick Singleton.

Image credit: IOC