A group of 14 athletes with combined experience from 33 Olympic Games have been named as members of the newly formed British Olympic Association (BOA) Athletes’ Commission.
The group comprises a mix of 10 summer and four winter Olympians, with 12 different Olympic disciplines represented. Nine of the athletes are still active competitors aiming for London 2012 or Sochi 2014, while five have retired within the last two Olympiads.
The commission will be led by three-time Olympian rower Sarah Winckless, who was recently appointed as the first BOA Athletes’ Commission chairman and will be responsible for feeding the views of the commission into the BOA board, of which she is a member.
The commission is an advisory group that has been created to provide athletes’ input into the initiatives and programmes offered by the BOA. Its creation followed a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Congress last year to ensure that athletes possess a meaningful voice in the decision-making process of National Olympic Committees.
BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said: “I am very pleased that the composition of the new BOA Athletes’ Commission reflects such a great wealth and diversity of Olympic experience. The calibre of athletes who put themselves forward is a tribute to the determination of British athletes to support their fellow Team GB Olympians.
“The BOA will benefit greatly from the insights and perspective delivered by the members of the Athletes’ Commission and I look forward to welcoming their input at BOA board level through the commission chair Sarah Winckless.”
BOA Athletes’ Commission members:
Chairman: Sarah Winckless, Rowing – 2000, 2004, 2008
IOC Athletes’ Commission member: Adam Pengilly, Skeleton – 2006, 2010
Ben Hawes, Hockey - 2004, 2008
Emily Freeman, Athletics - 2008
Goldie Sayers, Athletics - 2004, 2008
Henry Nwume, Bobsleigh - 2010
Jackie Lockhart, Curling - 1992, 1998, 2006, 2010
John Kerr, Skating: Figure Skating – 2006, 2010
Karen Pickering, Aquatics: Swimming - 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
Kate Allenby, Modern Pentathlon – 2000, 2004
Katherine Grainger, Rowing – 2000, 2004, 2008
Leon Taylor, Aquatics: Diving - 1996, 2000, 2004
Sara Symington, Cycling - 2000, 2004
Sarah Webb, Sailing – 2004, 2008
