Beijing (AP) – The former top biathlete Martin Fourcade and the former ski racer Frida Hansdotter have been elected to the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee.
Five-time Olympic champion Fourcade (33) from France received the most votes with 971 votes during the Winter Games in Beijing. A total of 2,307 of the 2,866 eligible Olympians in China took part in the election. 694 athletes voted for the Swede Hansdotter (36).
16 athletes from 16 countries stood for election. Germans were not among the candidates. Fourcade and Hansdotter are now in office until the 2030 Winter Games. The former Canadian ice hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser, who was recently very critical of the IOC, and ex-biathlete Ole Einar Björndalen from Norway are no longer on the Athletes’ Commission. Up to 23 athletes represent the interests of their colleagues on the commission.