Áron Szilágyi Omitted from IOC Athletes’ Commission
Three-Time Olympic Fencing Champion Áron Szilágyi Not Elected to IOC Athletes’ Commission
Hungarian fencer Áron Szilágyi, a three-time Olympic champion, was not invited to join the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. Instead, 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 athlete to apply for membership but was not selected. Allyson Felix received the most votes out of 6576 voters, with 2880. The new members are appointed for a term of eight years and also become members of the IOC.
Speaking after the announcement, Szilágyi expressed that he was not surprised by the selection of the new members, acknowledging that they had already represented the interests of athletes well. Despite not being chosen, Szilágyi emphasized his gratitude for the support he received during the voting process, stating that he will continue to work for the Olympic movement in the future.
While Szilágyi admitted that he would have loved to have been elected, he recognized that the competition for a spot on the Athletes’ Commission was different from competing for a gold medal. He pledged to continue supporting the elected members in their efforts to advocate for athletes.
Szilágyi reiterated that his goals and values remain unchanged, and he will continue to focus on working towards them at home. He also expressed his willingness to be nominated by the IOC Executive Board for a position on the Athletes’ Commission based on gender, sport, and region.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) Presidential Board has proposed Szilágyi as a candidate to replace the outgoing Olympic champion swimmer Dániel Gyurta. The four new members were chosen by athletes participating in the Paris Olympics from a pool of 32 applicants.
Despite not securing a spot on the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Szilágyi remains dedicated to his mission and will continue to contribute to the Olympic movement in his future endeavors.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
