SIX AMERICANS ELECTED TO WORLD TRIATHLON COMMITTEES, INCLUDING GALLEGOS TO EXECUTIVE BOARD

Six leaders within the United States multisport community were elected to various positions within World Triathlon Sunday at the XXXIII World Triathlon Congress, highlighted by the election of Gabriela Gallegos (El Paso, Texas) to the World Triathlon Executive Board. The U.S. had four female candidates successfully elected, the most of any nation, and tied for the most successful candidates overall. The Congress and elections were held virtually for the first time, with 136 National Federations participating.

The Americans selected in the 2020 World Triathlon Committee Elections include:

World Triathlon Executive Board: Gabriela Gallegos (El Paso, Texas)

Legal & Constitution Committee: Gale Bernhardt (Loveland, Colo.)

Audit Committee: Victoria Brumfield (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Medical & Anti-Doping Committee: Dr. Doug Hiller (Colfax, Wash.)

Paratriathlon Committee: Christine Palmquist (Geneva, Ill.)

Multisport Committee: Tim Yount (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Bernhardt, Hiller and Yount ran as incumbents who were re-elected to their positions. Gallegos was newly elected to the Executive Board, and Brumfield and Palmquist are also first-time members of their respective committees.

Gallegos is the first person of color to be nominated by the U.S. to the World Triathlon Executive Board. She was elected to the USA Triathlon Board of Directors in 2018 as its first Latina member. Gallegos is the President and Race Director for Race El Paso, as well as an attorney and Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, El Paso campus. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pan American Triathlon Confederation and YWCA El Paso del Norte. She is passionate about increasing diversity in the sport of triathlon and is a founding member of the USA Triathlon Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Advisory Council.

"This opportunity to serve comes at a critical time for our sport, the U.S., and the world," Gallegos said. "I am thrilled. I look forward to representing the U.S. and to being part of the global effort to further build the sport of triathlon."

The U.S. candidates ran on a platform centered on "Service Through Leadership" — helping to grow the sport around the world, while using the resources afforded to USA Triathlon and the U.S. multisport community to support fellow nations and member federations within World Triathlon.

The elected U.S. committee members are also passionate about supporting age-group athletes and multisport fans worldwide, while promoting equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the sport. They are focused on listening to the needs of the global community and the voices of elite and amateur athletes, federations, and partners.

In addition to the committee elections, Marisol Casado of Spain was re-elected as President of World Triathlon, earning another four-year term. Visit triathlon.org for a complete recap of the elections.

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