Alistair Brownlee has been elected to replace Gerd Kanter as the new Chair of the European Olympic Committees Athletes’ Commission, following the recent European Athletes’ Forum and Assembly in Rome.

Brownlee, who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, is now competing in long course triathlon and is currently ranked PTO World #32 after a rollercoaster season.

In his first address to the members after being elected, Brownlee said he will do everything in his power to help European athletes and encouraged the sharing of best practices and ideas between individuals on the Athletes’ Commissions.

“It’s a great honour”

Having also been elected as an Athletes’ Commission Member to the International Olympic Committee in September 2022, Brownlee has experience as a mouthpiece for the sport and said that his new position as Chair of the EOC Athlete’s Commission was an honour.

“It’s a great honour to become the EOC Athletes’ Commission Chair. I strongly believe that athletes are the most important stakeholder in sport and being able to represent and stand for the European athletes of the Olympic Movement is a great honour and responsibility. I want to do everything I can to promote the Olympic Movement in Europe.

“The last two days have been great. It is fantastic to get athlete representatives together in the same place to share learnings, ways of working and to generate new ideas. There is always plenty to learn and plenty that all Athletes’ Commissions can do better.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a long established one or just starting your journey as an Athletes’ Commission, people have learned off each other and there have been some great ideas shared.”