05 Nov 2021 – Australia’s canoeing champion Jessica Fox, who won gold in the inaugural women’s canoe slalom in Tokyo this summer, joins the Athletes’ Commission (AC) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to represent the athlete voice within the Olympic Movement.

IOC President Thomas Bach appointed Fox, in accordance with the IOC AC regulations, to ensure a balance between genders, regions and sports within the Commission. In view of the upcoming Olympic Games Brisbane 2032, her appointment enhances athlete representation for Oceania and additionally widens the representation of sports with a canoe athlete.

Over the past 10 years, Fox has claimed 26 World Cup titles, 7 World Championships and 3 Olympic medals. At Tokyo 2020, Women’s C1 made its Olympic Games debut as part of the IOC’s commitment to gender equality – a decision strongly supported by Fox, who then won the gold medal, along with a bronze medal in K1.  As a 16-year-old, she won the C1 and K1 junior world titles, before winning gold at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010.

Fox will serve alongside newly elected members Pau Gasol, Maja Włoszczowska, Federica Pellegrini and Yuki Ota. These four athletes were elected by their peers during Tokyo 2020 and also became IOC members. Humphrey Kayange (Kenya, rugby) was then appointed to the IOC AC by the IOC President in Tokyo.

IOC AC Chair Emma Terho welcomed Fox to the Commission, saying: “We are very much looking forward to working together with Jessica. As a three-time Olympian and a member of both the International Canoeing Federation and Australian NOC athletes’ commissions, she is already very connected with the athletes in her sport and region, and this will bring valuable input to the Commission.”

Fox added: “I am very honoured to have been asked to join the IOC Athletes’ Commission and contribute to the future of the Olympic Movement for the next generation of Olympians. I have learned a great deal from my time on the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission and I’m excited to now have the opportunity to serve the global athlete community.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved, with Beijing 2022 just around the corner, Paris 2024 only three years away and, for us down under, helping shape Brisbane 2032.  I look forward to meeting the other members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and working with them.”

The IOC AC plays a central role within the Olympic Movement, representing the global athlete voice within the IOC and the Olympic Movement. The Commission is composed of a maximum of 23 members, 12 of whom are directly chosen through elections during the Games, with a maximum of 11 appointed members.