By World Sailing
Following the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, five international sailors have been elected to the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee where they will serve as the athlete voice throughout the Federation.
The sailors joining the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee are:
- Kiran Badloe (NED) Men’s Windsurfing – Three-time RS:X World Champion, two-time RS:X European Champion and Tokyo 2020 Men’s Windsurfing Olympic Champion.
- Valentin Bontus (AUT) Men’s Kite – Recently crowned inaugural Men’s Kite Olympic Champion at Paris 2024.
- Lisa Darmanin (AUS) Mixed Multihull – Four-time Australian Female Sailor of the Year, silver medallist in the Mixed Multihull at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympian.
- Maria Erdi (HUN) Women’s Dinghy – 2023 Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year, 2023 ILCA 6 World Champion and three-time Olympian.
- Henriette Smith (NOR), one half of the 2023 RS Venture Connect Para World Champions, will also join the Athletes’ Commission as the Para Inclusive Sailing representative.
David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said, “I am delighted to welcome the five elected to the Athletes’ Committee. These impressive sailors will help steer the future of the sport by communicating the view and priorities of sailors to the Federation.
“Our new governance structure ensures that athlete input is gained throughout World Sailing’s Commissions, Committees and Forums and this direct line of communication from the field of play is really useful to allow our sport to continuously improve.
“Their insight will be vital as we implement the priorities outlined in World Sailing’s Olympic Vision and pursue reinstatement to the Paralympic Games.”
The World Sailing Athletes’ Committee is comprised of nine members and meets annually in person. Its role is to represent the interests of all Olympic and Para Inclusive sailors to World Sailing, and to encourage open communication and feedback from the sailors.
The first meeting of the new committee will be at the World Sailing Annual Conference 2024.
The final member will be appointed by the World Sailing President, after the Presidential election in November 2024, to ensure there is balance between regions, genders and events.
After the final member is known, the Committee will meet to elect its Chair and Vice Chair for a four-year term. The Chair of the Committee will be a member of the World Sailing Board and a member of the World Sailing Council.
In line with the IOC Athletes’ Commission, the maximum term of membership is eight years. Three members from the previous Athletes’ Commission, now renamed to the Athletes’ Committee, have a further term to serve:
- David Hughes (USA), Mixed Dinghy
- Pawel Kolodzinski (POL), Men’s Skiff
- Pavlos Kontides (CYP) Men’s Dinghy
More information about World Sailing’s Commissions, Committees and representative roles can be found on the World Sailing website.
Information about the 2024 World Sailing Elections can be found here.
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