Korean bobsleigh athlete Won Yun-jong, who secured a silver medal in the four-man event at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, tops the list as the newest IOC athlete member for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
Election Results Announced
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed the outcomes of its athlete representative election on February 19 (Korean time) during a session in Milan. Won Yun-jong emerged as the leading candidate, securing the highest number of votes among contenders for the 2026 Winter Olympics positions.
The voting process spanned from January 30 to February 18, engaging active participants in the upcoming Games. Out of 11 candidates, two were selected in this round, with a total of 4,786 votes cast by 2,393 IOC members. Won Yun-jong received 1,176 votes, placing first.
Other Selected Athletes
Joining Won are Estonia’s biathlete Johanna Talihärm and another IOC election commission member, Hamke, both securing spots as athlete representatives.
Historic Milestone for Korea
This selection marks Won Yun-jong as the shortest-serving Korean IOC athlete member to date. His official IOC membership awaits formal approval at the IOC Session on February 22 in Lausanne. Following this, Korea will hold two IOC athlete seats, including the existing one held by Kim Jae-yeol.
On February 23, public confirmation of the appointments will follow the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics election ceremony at 8 p.m. on the 22nd.
Impact on Olympic Representation
After an eight-year absence of Korean Olympic medals, this achievement bolsters athletes’ voices within the IOC. It aims to reflect evolving athlete goals in key policies and drive necessary reforms.
Won Yun-jong expressed his satisfaction post-election: “Interactions with numerous athletes at the heart of the Olympic community have yielded this positive result. I am committed to advocating even more vigorously for athletes as an IOC member.”
