The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission (AC) has elected its new leadership team: Pau Gasol Sáez (Spain, basketball) steps into the role of Chair; Maja Włoszczowska(Poland, cycling) continues to serve as first Vice-Chair; and Humphrey Kayange(Kenya, rugby) has been elected as second Vice-Chair. The IOC AC has also created a third Vice-Chair position, which will be filled by Oluseyi Smith (Canada, athletics and bobsleigh). The elections took place during the IOC AC meeting held in Milan.
The new Chair and Vice Chairs will hold their positions until the LA28 Olympic Games.
Pau Gasol Sáez participated in five editions of the Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and a bronze medal at Rio 2016. He was elected to the IOC AC at Tokyo 2020 and he is also a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for the LA28 Olympic Games and the IOC Ethics Commission.
“This is a big moment to be able to take on the responsibility of leading our Commission,” said Gasol following his election. “Since I was elected in Tokyo in 2021, it’s been an incredible learning journey that I am excited to continue. “I think we have a unique opportunity until LA28 to make significant strides and build on the progress that we have made already. It’s about working together – the stronger we work together, the more we will accomplish. Thank you for the support, and I look forward to what we can do together.”
The IOC AC Chair sits on the IOC Executive Board (EB), representing the athletes’ voice at the highest level of IOC decision-making.
Meet the three new Vice-Chairs
A four-time Olympian, Maja Włoszczowska won silver medals at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. She was elected to the IOC AC at Tokyo 2020 and as first Vice-Chair at Paris 2024. She has also been a member of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission since 2022.
An Olympian at Rio 2016, Humphrey Kayange has been a member of the IOC AC since Tokyo 2020. He was appointed to the Coordination Commission for the Dakar 2026 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2022 and became its Chair in 2025.
Appointed to the IOC AC in 2022, Oluseyi Smith represented Canada at both the Summer and Winter Games, competing in the 4x100m athletics relay at London 2012 before switching to bobsleigh and finishing sixth in the four-man event at PyeongChang 2018. Oluseyi also took part in the IOC Young Leaders programme.
Outgoing members
Pau Gasol Sáez succeeds Emma Terho, who was elected to the IOC AC at PyeongChang 2018, before being chosen to lead the Commission at Tokyo 2020. She was subsequently re-elected as Chair at Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024, becoming the longest-serving female Chair in the Commission’s history.
“As my time on the IOC AC is coming to an end in the next few days, my overriding emotion is one of immense pride and gratitude as I look back over the last eight years,” said Terho. “I want to take this opportunity to thank every Commission member for their tireless dedication. It has been an honour to be the Chair of this incredible group, and I thank them all for the privilege of sharing this time together and for always advocating for our fellow athletes.”
“I would also like to congratulate Pau Gasol Sáez and the three new Vice-Chairs and wish them every success as they build on the progress we have made at the service of athletes worldwide,” Terho concluded.
About the IOC Athletes’ Commission
The IOC AC plays a central role in the Olympic Movement, representing the global athlete voice within the IOC and beyond. The Commission is composed of a maximum of 23 members, 12 of whom are directly chosen through elections during the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, with a maximum of 11 appointed members to ensure a balance between genders, regions and sports.
There are 15 IOC AC members representing athletes in the IOC Session, matching the number of representatives from NOCs and International Federations.
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