Zhang skates into contention for IOC post

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — China’s Olympic skating champion Zhang Hong has been named one of the six candidates to run for the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission elections next year, the IOC announced on Monday.

Zhang, 29, won China its first ever Olympic gold medal

Scoreboard

in speedskating in the women’s 1,000 meters at the 2014 Sochi Games.

The IOC executive board approved the candidacies of six winter sports athletes for elections to be held during the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February.

“I am delighted with the caliber of candidates running for a place in the IOC Athletes’ Commission,” said commission chair Angela Ruggiero.

“I have every confidence in each candidate to strongly represent athletes in the Olympic movement and continue the excellent work of the IOC Athletes’ Commission to date.

“I wish all of them the best of luck, and urge all Olympians competing in Pyeongchang next year to vote for the candidates they wish to represent them on the IOC.”

Nominated by their respective National Olympic Committees, the candidates vying for two available positions originate from three continents and represent five dif- ferent sports.

The other five candidates up for election are: Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen of Norway (cross-country skiing); Ander Mirambell of Spain (skeleton); Kikkan Randall of the United States (cross-country skiing); Emma Terho of Finland (hockey) and Armin Zoeggeler of Italy (luge).

Two seats on the commission will become available in 2018 after Ruggiero and Adam Pengilly complete their terms of office in February.

All athletes participating in the Pyeongchang Games will be eligible to vote.

After approval by the IOC Session, the two elected Olympians will become IOC members and serve eight-year terms.