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The three-time Olympic champion fencer Áron Szilágyi was not invited to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. The four new members of the panel are seven-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix of the USA, gymnast Kim Bui of Germany, Australian slalom canoeist Jessica Fox, who won two gold medals in Paris, and New Zealand tennis player Marcus Daniell.
Szilágyi was the only Hungarian to apply for membership. Allyson Felix received the most votes out of 6576 voters, with 2880. The new members are appointed for a term of eight years and are also members of the IOC.
When the four new members were called, I was not really surprised because they were people who had already represented the interests of athletes well and had a very good program”
Szilágyi told M4 Sport after the announcement of the results.
The Hungarian fencer stressed that he had done everything he could to be selected and felt that many people had supported him, for which he was grateful to everyone, as well as to those who took the trouble to vote for him in the Olympic village. “Even though I did not make it, the Games have confirmed that it is worth working for the Olympic movement and I feel I will continue to do so in the future,” said Szilágyi.
The athlete “would have loved to have been there” among those elected, but he said it was not the same competition as competing for the gold medal on the rostrum, and he will still be cheering on the elected members to do their bit for the athletes.
My goals and the values I want to represent have not changed, working for them at home will continue to be the main focus of my life,”
the three-time Olympic champion said of his program.
The IOC Executive Board also nominates one or two members of the Athletes’ Commission on the basis of gender, sport and region. Szilágyi said he had no control over this, but would be honored if he was nominated in this way.
The mandate of Olympic champion swimmer Dániel Gyurta will expire at the end of the Paris Games, and the MOB (Hungarian Olympic Committee) Presidential Board has proposed Áron Szilágyi as a new candidate, based on the review of the application materials and the recommendation of the three-member preparatory committee. The four new members were elected by the athletes participating in the Paris Olympics from 32 applicants (18 women and 14 men).
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt