Italian swimming great Federica Pellegrini was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission on Wednesday by athletes taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She was elected from a list of 30 candidates for the four
available places along with Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol,
Polish cyclist Maja Martina Wloszczowska and Japanese fencer
Yuki Ota.
Pellegrini made history last week by qualifying for the Olympic
final in the 200 meters freestyle for the fifth time.
No woman swimmer had ever achieved this feat before in the same
event and only Michael Phelps has done it among the men.
She came seventh in the final.
"These elections open an important window to me to my world, but
in a different role," she said.
"I'm very happy. I will always be connected to the Olympics, but
in other roles, although always as an athlete.
"This was my last Olympics. A highly exciting (new) life is
waiting for me, perhaps one that is a little less tiring.
"What I want to do within the IOC is to make the life of an
athlete who is approaching the Olympics easier".
The 32-year-old, a six-time world champion, won gold in the 200
meters freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver at her
first Games in Athens in 2004.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
