“Voices must be as diverse as possible” – Sprint veteran Allyson Felix among four Olympians appointed to IOC athletes’ commission

“Voices must be as diverse as possible” – Sprint veteran Allyson Felix among four Olympians appointed to IOC athletes’ commission

Allyson Felix

Ace American sprinter Allyson Felix, who recently took her global gold medal count to 22 at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, has joined the Athletes’ Commission (AC) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Californian track and field athlete Felix, who claimed as many as 11 Olympic medals (including seven gold) during her illustrious career and seven titles, joined fellow Olympians Alistair Brownlee, Oluseyi Smith and Masomah Ali Zada in being appointed to the commission. The body is responsible for helping represent the athlete’s voice within the Olympic Movement.

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“Athletes are at the very heart of the Olympic Movement, and it is therefore essential that their voices are heard within the IOC,” said IOC President Thomas 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.”

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“Looking forward to working together with Allyson, Alistair, Oluseyi and Masomah” – Terho

IOC athletes’ commission chair Emma Terho
IOC athletes’ commission chair Emma Terho

The four new members were appointed by Bach, in consultation with IOC athletes’ commission chair Emma Terho, and per IOC AC regulations, which are aimed at ensuring a balance between genders, regions and sports within the commission. Each of the newly-appointed members can serve a term of up to eight years. 

“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.”

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