South Korean Bobsleigh Star Leads Election
South Korea’s Won Yun-jong, a prominent bobsleigh athlete, secured the top position in the preliminary voting for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics executive board meeting. He received 1,176 votes out of 4,786 total votes from 2,393 candidates, ranking first in the highest vote category and second in the base score ranking.
The results emerged from the election held on February 19 (Korean time) at the CDM in Milan, Italy. Won Yun-jong will receive formal confirmation as an IOC Athletes’ Commission member during the IOC General Assembly on February 22.
Official Announcement and Assumption of Duties
The public announcement occurs at 8 p.m. on February 22 in the Milan-Cortina 2026 convention hall. Won Yun-jong assumes his new role starting February 23.
This selection highlights the influence of the International Skating Union (ISU) president’s IOC executive board recommendation, positioning bobsleigh legend Won Yun-jong among the commission members.
Korean Olympic Committee Celebrates Milestone
Lee Jae-myung, president of the Korean Olympic Committee, shared his congratulations on social media, stating, “Outstanding achievement—South Korea welcomes the selection of an IOC Athletes’ Commission member.”
He emphasized, “South Korea’s bobsleigh team has produced its first IOC Athletes’ Commission member. Even gold medalists in medals and special gold medalist Yushinmin athletes count this as the country’s second IOC Athletes’ Commission representative.”
Lee Jae-myung added that Won Yun-jong, who earned four silvers at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and set a record as the smallest Olympic medalist in bobsleigh despite no golds, established South Korea as a bobsleigh powerhouse.
Subsequently, Won Yun-jong served as president of the national bobsleigh and skeleton federation, a Korean Olympic Committee member, and executive director of the 2024 Gangwon Youth Winter Olympics, expanding athlete influence and improving sports environments.
Remarkable Competition Results
Among 11 candidates, only two secured confirmed spots, making Won Yun-jong’s first-place finish in vote volume a testament to his leadership in bobsleigh and proven integrity.
“Won Yun-jong represents the world’s top athletes’ influence, achieving significant roles through sports that promote peace and unity,” Lee Jae-myung noted.
He expressed optimism: “Amid challenging sentiments and rapid changes, hope emerges in sports environment improvements. Properly, expect active participation representing IOC Athletes’ Commission activities, influencing global sports development and athlete protections in international discussions.”
