Swimmer Daniel Gyurta of Hungary was elected by his peers with 1469 votes on the IOC Athletes Commission, which aim is to serve as a link between athletes and the IOC. The Commission ensures that the athletes’ point of view remains at the heart of all decision in the Olympic Movement. It is composed of 17 members, who are all active or past Olympians.
Daniel Gyurta, 27, from Hungary became the first man to win the 200m breaststroke event three times at the FINA World Championships (2009, 2011 and 2013). He also took gold in the London 2012 Games in the 200m breaststroke. Unfortunately he didn’t grab any medals in Rio. The athlete has also been very successful at the past FINA/airweave Swimming World Cups.
See his biography here
Ryan Pini MBE, 34, from Papua New Guinea, a three-time Olympic who swam for his country at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and who greatly contributed to the development of the sport was alos proposed but received 240 votes.
The announcement was made on August 18, at the Olympic Village by IOC Member and Chair of the Election Committee Nicole Hoevertsz and incoming Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Angela Ruggiero. The election was held over the past 25 days in the Olympic Village located in Rio de Janeiro.
On 21 August, Heidemann, Ryu, Gyurta and Isinbayeva will be proposed to the IOC Session for IOC membership. Pending approval, they will then be officially introduced at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 on 21 August.
IOC member and former Olympic swimmer Alexander Popov is stepping down from the IOC Athletes Commission.