Emma McKeon, Australia's most celebrated Olympian, has been elected to the Swimming Australia Athletes Commission.
What happened?
The Commission, part of Swimming Australia's revised governance structure, aims to represent swimmers and support them in their sporting and non-sporting endeavours.
The new committee includes recently retired triple Olympians McKeon and Mitch Larkin, Rio gold medallist Mack Horton, and dual Olympian Jenna Strauch.
Why it matters for Emma McKeon
As a member of the Athletes Commission, Emma McKeon will play a key role in supporting swimmers and representing their interests.
Matt Abood, incumbent Athlete Director and Chair of the Commission, emphasized the importance of the Athletes' Commission in Swimming Australia's governance structure.
What comes next?
The Athletes Commission will serve as a direct link between the athletes and the Swimming Australia Board, ensuring that athlete voices are heard and represented.
Hayden Collins, Interim Chair, added that the establishment of the Athletes' Commission ensures that athlete voices are enshrined in Swimming Australia's decision-making process.
Emma McKeon and the other committee members will work together to support swimmers and promote the sport.
Key takeaways
The Athletes Commission includes a mix of experienced athletes, spanning decades of experience both in and out of the water.
Their mission is to put athletes at the heart of High Performance and the Olympic Movement.
The Commission will establish a direct connection between the athletes and the Board, enabling athlete voices to be heard and represented.
This connection will work both ways, supporting the athlete's life cycle from aspiring Dolphins to current and retired athletes, according to Matt Abood.