Steve Hooker Elected AOC Athletes' Commission Chair

Beijing 2008 Olympic Champion and three-time Olympian Steve Hooker has been electedas Chair of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.

The 34-year-old was chosen by his fellow Athletes’ Commission members with Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Kim Brennan appointed his deputy.

The Commission plays an important role in providing advice to the AOC Executive on all matters relating to the Olympic Movement from an athlete’s perspective.

"It’s an honour to have been selected as the Chair," said Hooker following the newly elected Commission’s first meeting.

"This is a group of passionate athletes that I’m proud to be a part of and I know we’re all motivated to achieve a lot over the next term."

Hooker was first elected to the Commission following the London 2012 Games and believes the group of athletes are crucial in providing a voice for Olympic athletes past and present.

"We’ve achieved some great things over the past four years and I think the fact we have anumber of athletes returning to the Commission will be great for continuity.

"This will help us with the implementation of those tasks already in the works, such as an athlete-career transition program that will be run by the AOC, while we are also keen to shift our focus to other areas of improvement as well."

Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates praised the Commission’s selection.

"I was very pleased to receive the news of Steve’s appointment by his colleagues," Coates said.

"His profile as an Olympic gold medallist is great for both the Commission and the AOC Executive of which he now becomes a full voting member of. I’m confident in his leadership skills and that he will make a key contribution in all of the activities of the AOC.

"I also acknowledge the outstanding contribution of outgoing Chair Kim Brennan who now as Deputy Chair will have the opportunity to provide assistance to Steve as he transitions into the role."

Hooker leapt into Australian Olympic history when he won gold and broke the Olympic record in Beijing. In doing so he became the first Australian male athletics athlete to stand on top of the Olympic podium in 40 years.

After winning World Championship gold in 2009, he defended his 2006 Commonwealth Games title in 2010 before making his final Olympic appearance at the London 2012 Games.

Following the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the eight summer Olympic athlete positions on the Commission were voted upon.

Hooker, Brennan, Alana Boyd, Cate Campbell and Ken Wallace were re-elected for another four-year term while they were joined by new members Jessica Fox, Shelley Watts and Jamie Dwyer. Winter athletes Ramone Cooper and Lydia Lassila, along with IOC Athletes’

Commission representative James Tomkins, remained in their roles.

The Commission will meet three times a year with the next meeting scheduled for February 2017.

The AOC Athletes’ Commission:

Chair: Steve Hooker (Athletics)

Deputy Chair: Kim Brennan (Rowing)

Alana Boyd (Athletics)

Ramone Cooper (Freestyle Skiing)

Cate Campbell (Swimming)

Jamie Dwyer (Hockey)

Jessica Fox (Canoe/Kayak)

Lydia Lassila (Freestyle Skiing)

James Tomkins (Rowing)

Ken Wallace (Canoe/Kayak)

Shelley Watts (Boxing)

For more information, please contact:

Matt Bartolo

Coordinator Digital Media

Australian Olympic Committee

Tel: +61 2 8436 2152

Mobile: +61 416 531 411

Email: Matt.Bartolo@olympics.com.au

olympics.com.au

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