Valerie Adams and Inaki Gomez (© Getty Images)
Iñaki Gomez (CAN) was elected Chair of the Athletes' Commission by Commission members and confirmed by Council today.
Gomez, who succeeds Rozle Prezelj, represented Canada at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow where he finished eighth in the 20km race walk, an event in which he also holds the national record.
Dame Valerie Adams (NZL) was elected and confirmed Deputy Chair. Adams, currently on maternity leave, is a four-time world indoor and four-time world outdoor champion in the shot put. Adams’ Commission term began in January 2016.
"It's a great opportunity to be here and contribute to the IAAF," said Gomez.
“My role is to lead a very strong commission of athletes --both active, and some retired and align our vision and goals with what the organisation already has in place.”
Gomez retired from competition in March of last year and currently works as a securities lawyer in Vancouver, but was ready to hit the ground running in his new role following his election yesterday.
During the meeting, he said, “We went through the items the IAAF wants us to consider which gave us an opportunity to also assess some of the gaps that we see.
“It's important to remember that Federations are here for athletes - there has to be an athlete-centred focus,” said Gomez who contributed extensively to the IAAF Reforms that were passed by Congress in December 2016.
Another strong focus of his work, Gomez added, will be to assist with communications, both internally with other athletes as well as with fan outreach.
Council also confirmed that Esther Fittko (GER) would assume the position of Chair of the Women's committee through 2019 after Anne Phillips stepped down. Fittko was the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the election in Beijing in 2015.
IAAF