Former World Record-Holder Liam Tancock Appointed Chair Of Inaugural LEN Athletes’ Committee

Liam Tancock: Photo Courtesy: O Sports

Two-time 50m backstroke world champion Liam Tancock has been appointed chair of the inaugural LEN Athletes’ Committee as part of the European federation’s governance reforms.

The Briton will head the new committee comprising seven former and current athletes – four men and three women – across all aquatic disciplines.

As chair, Tancock is considered a member of the LEN Bureau with full voting rights and, as part of the LEN Constitutional reform proposals, the Athletes’ Committee will be given two votes at Congress – as if the committee was a country.

The group – appointed by the LEN Bureau – will now work on a process to select the Committee to ensure athletes have a voice in the selection process.

The full composition of the LEN Athletes’ Committee
Chair – Liam Tancock GBR, Swimming
Vice Chair – Milouschka Smit NED, Water Polo
Secretary – Oliver Dingley IRL, Diving
Members (all active athletes):
Emma Garcia ESP, Artistic Swimming
Caroline Jousse FRA, Open Water
Andrii Govorov UKR, Swimming
Norbert Hosnyanszky HUN, Water Polo

Tancock enjoyed a medal-laden career before retiring in 2016 with five world, three European and 10 Commonwealth medals of which four were gold.

The 37-year-old set a global mark of 24.04 in the 50 back at the 2009 World Championships, a standard that stood for nine years and two days when Kliment Kolesnikov lowered it to 24.00 at the 2018 European Championships.

The Russian subsequently eclipsed the mark with USA swimmer Hunter Armstrong moving to the top of the helm at the US world trials last month in 23.71.

Tancock, who represented Britain at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, said:

“It’s a privilege to be the first chair of the LEN Athletes’ Committee. I am really looking forward to working alongside fellow athletes who all have valuable experience and insight from across the aquatic disciplines to help guide the group.

“I am excited to help form a strong foundation for this committee and ensure that the voice of the athletes is represented in the decision-making processes at a very exciting time for LEN European aquatics.”

He posted to social media, saying:

Otylia Jedrzejczak, 2o0 fly champion at Athens 2004 and now a member of the Bureau liaison with the Athletes’ Committee, said:

“After two rounds of requests to the Federations we have received a total of 22 nominations from 16 federations and we are delighted that we have started the process of giving our athletes a real voice in decision-making so they can actively contribute to the future of our sport.”

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