Allyson Felix at the Tokyo Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
US sprint great Allyson Felix, who recently took her global gold medal count to 22 at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, has joined the athletes’ commission (AC) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Felix, who claimed 11 Olympic medals during her career including seven titles, joins fellow Olympians Alistair Brownlee, Oluseyi Smith and Masomah Ali Zada in being appointed to the commission, which helps to represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement.
The four new members were appointed by IOC President Thomas Bach, in consultation with IOC athletes’ commission chair Emma Terho, and in accordance with IOC AC regulations, which are aimed at ensuring a balance between genders, regions and sports within the commission. They can each serve a term of up to eight years. With these additions, the IOC AC will consist of 14 women and nine men.
“Athletes are at the very heart of the Olympic Movement, and it is therefore essential that their voices are heard within the IOC,” said Bach.
“Those voices must be as diverse as possible. The appointment of these four new members of the athletes’ commission complements the outstanding skills and experience of the commission and ensures we have great representation across different sports and regions of the world. We look forward to working with each of them in the years ahead as they play a vital role in representing the interests of the global athlete community.”
Felix, who is a member of the LA28 organising committee athletes’ commission, has represented the USA in athletics at five editions of the Olympic Games. In what is her last season as a competitive athlete, she will leave the sport as the most decorated female athlete in Olympic track and field history.
Smith represented Canada at both the Summer and Winter Games, competing in the 4x100m at London 2012 before switching to bobsleigh and finishing sixth in the four-man event at PyeongChang 2018.
Brownlee, meanwhile, competed for Great Britain in triathlon at three editions of the Olympic Games, winning gold medals at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. Cyclist Ali Zada competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games as part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and is the first refugee athlete on any IOC commission.
“Together with my fellow commission members, we are very much looking forward to working together with Allyson, Alistair, Oluseyi and Masomah,” said Terho. “They will bring invaluable expertise and input to the commission from athletes in their sports and regions, ensuring that we represent the voice of athletes around the world.”
The next Summer Games action takes place in Paris in 2024, with organisers this week announcing that athletics competition will be held from 1-11 August.
