Allyson Felix among Olympic gold medalist candidates for IOC membership
Allyson Felix is among 32 athletes seeking election to the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission, which typically carries with it IOC membership.
Felix, an 11-time Olympic medalist who retired last year at age 36, and the other 31 nominees are vying for four open spots on the commission, which is composed of a maximum of 23 members (12 elected, maximum 11 appointed) who serve eight-year terms.
Felix is already on the commission as an appointed member, having joined four days after her last race at the 2022 World Championships.
Voting for the new elected members will take place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by competing athletes.
MORE: Allyson Felix discusses life in retirement
Other candidates include active Olympic champions golfer Inbee Park of South Korea, BMX racer Mariana Pajón of Colombia and canoeist Jessica Fox of Australia.
The last American elected to the commission was cross-country skiing gold medalist Kikkan Randall in 2018. She stepped down in 2021.
Current athletes' commission members include retired stars Pau Gasol (Spain, basketball), Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, track and field, whose term ends next year) and Federica Pellegrini (Italy, swimming).
The commission is represented at all levels of IOC decision-making and serves as a link between the IOC and active athletes.
There are currently 107 IOC members (plus more in honorary roles) including Americans Anita DeFrantz and David Haggerty.
