Two-time Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has been appointed to the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to help represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement.
Brownlee was well placed to take up the position having served as a member of the Athletes’ Commission of the European Olympic Committees and on the Athlete Advisory Committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Joining the four-time world triathlon champion for the eight-year term are Afghan cyclist Masomah Ali Zada, who's the first refugee athlete on any IOC commission; seven-time Olympic athletics gold medallist Allyson Felix; and Canadian athletics and bobsleigh Olympian Oluseyi Smith.
The four athletes were appointed by IOC President Thomas Bach, and in accordance with IOC AC regulations, which are aimed at ensuring a balance between genders, regions and sports within the Commission. With these additions, the IOC AC now consists of 14 women and 9 men.
“It’s an honour to be appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Commission," said Brownlee after his appointment. "I am a product of the Olympic movement; watching the first ever Olympic triathlon in Sydney inspired me to dream and work hard towards those dreams.
"It will be a privilege to represent the athlete’s of the Olympic movement and play a small part in helping to realise the dream’s of more young people."
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World Triathlon president, Marisol Casado, an IOC member herself, as well as a member of six IOC Commissions, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have the voice of one of our most successful and charismatic athletes, Alistair Brownlee, joining the Athletes’ Commission.
"His voice, and the voice of all triathletes around the world, will be taken even more into consideration, and is again the proof that our sport has a strong presence in the Olympic movement.
"I'm sure his commitment with the Movement will be extraordinary and will help us all to continue growing."
Top image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
