COC welcomes four members to Athletes’ Commission

TORONTO (May 24, 2022) — The Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (COC AC) is pleased to share that four athletes were elected by their peers after the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games to join the COC AC. These winter Olympians will join their summer counterparts and serve on the volunteer commission until the election after Milano-Cortina 2026. 

• Kim Boutin (Speed skating – Short track) 
• Phil Brown (Alpine Skiing) 
• Philippe Marquis (Freestyle Skiing) – re-elected member
• Mercedes Nicoll (Snowboard) 

They were elected by athletes who competed in the Beijing 2022 and Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The electees will join existing members:

• Rosie MacLennan (Gymnastics – trampoline); current COC AC Chair
• Inaki Gomez (Athletics); current COC AC Vice-Chair
• Maxwell Lattimer (Rowing)
• Lucas Makowsky (Speed skating – long track)
• Diana Matheson (Soccer)
• Martha McCabe (Swimming)
• Jasmine Mian (Wrestling)
• Joseph Polossifakis (Fencing)
• Quinn (Soccer)
• Jacqueline Simoneau (Artistic Swimming) 

“We are really excited to continue working with Phil Marquis and to welcome newly elected members Mercedes, Kim and Phil Brown to the Athletes’ Commission,” said two-time Olympic champion and COC AC Chair, Rosie MacLennan. “Each has shown tremendous leadership and strong engagement in sport as well as an eagerness to contribute to the experience of Olympians across Canada.”

The Athletes’ Commission represents athletes on the COC Board of Directors. The members also present and advocate for Canadian Olympic athletes’ perspectives at the COC. They also work closely with their elected athlete representative peers at the Canadian Paralympic Committee and AthletesCAN to be strong advocates for athletes and the athlete voice within the Canadian sport system. . 

“We are extremely fortunate to have a strong, engaged group of leaders in our Athletes’ Commission who contribute throughout our organization and ensure the athlete voice is at the centre of all we do,” said Tricia Smith, four-time Olympian and President of the COC. “ We are very proud to welcome these new and re-elected members and look forward to continuing our work together.”

Due to her role as the president of the Pan American Sport Organization Athletes’ Commission, Melissa Humana-Paredes serves as a non-voting member of the COC AC.

The COC and the COC AC extend their heartfelt thanks to outgoing member of the Athletes’ Commission Rosalind Groenewoud (freestyle skiing) for her commitment to improving sport in Canada and being a fierce advocate for athletes..

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“I would like to thank all the voters who took part in this election process. I’m very much looking forward to representing and defending the voice of Canadian Olympic athletes. I will make myself available for all questions and I am eager to get involved for the benefit of the athlete community.” 
– Kim Boutin

“I am honoured and ecstatic to be selected as a member of the COC Athletes’ Commission. I look forward to working with the other commission members to represent and communicate the voice of our Olympians, continuing to build an even stronger environment for athletic success in Canada.”
– Phil Brown

“I look forward to helping support, inform and value all Team Canada athletes’ careers and experiences, both present and future.”
– Mercedes Nicoll 

“Over the past four years on the Athletes’ Commission, I’ve learned a lot about the Canadian sport system. We’ve been challenged. We’ve had to step up on important topics and take strong stances and positions. I’m very excited to be re-elected by my peers to keep driving the athletes’ voice forward. I’m excited to welcome new members and deepen our impact within the COC and across all stakeholders.”
– Philippe Marquis

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Philippe Marquis, First Officer
Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission
C: 418-932-8289
E: philippemarquis1@gmail.com

Peter​ Saltsman
Senior Manager, Public Relations
C: 647-382-6986
E: psaltsman@olympic.ca

Samantha Sokol
Specialist, Communications
C: 647-385-7107
E: ssokol@olympic.ca