Allyson Felix Elected to Represent Athletes at IOC for Eight Years

Allyson Felix, the legendary seven-time Olympic gold medalist, has been elected to represent athletes at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the next eight years. Felix, who retired from sprinting, received overwhelming support from her peers with 2,880 votes out of 6,576 athletes at the Paris Olympics.

Joining Felix as newly elected athlete members are Australian canoeist Jessica Fox, German gymnast Kim Bui, and New Zealand tennis player Marcus Daniell. Three out of the four elected members are women, highlighting the increasing representation of female athletes in decision-making roles within the IOC.

The athlete members will serve an eight-year term and will be involved in crucial decisions, including selecting hosts for the 2036 and 2040 Summer Games. Felix expressed her commitment to listening to the concerns and needs of athletes, emphasizing the importance of their voices in shaping the future of the Olympic movement.

Felix and Fox were already IOC-appointed members of the Olympic athletes commission, where they advocated for progressive initiatives such as a nursery at the athletes’ village for parent-athletes. This project, inspired by Felix’s own experience as a mother competing at the highest level, reflects her dedication to improving the athlete experience at the Olympics.

With Fox’s election, Australia gains an additional Olympic voice ahead of the Brisbane Summer Games in 2032. The four new athlete members will be sworn in and will take the Olympic oath in Paris on Saturday, marking the beginning of their term representing athletes on the global stage.