Curling will continue to be represented on the British Olympic Association (BOA) Athletes’ Commission after Eve Muirhead, skip of the Team GB quartet which won gold at the Winter Olympic Games in 2022, was re-elected for a second term following an election last month. 
The 34-year-old from Blair Atholl, who competed at four Winter Olympics before her retirement following that triumph in Beijing, also served as the BOA’s Chef de Mission at the Winter Youth Olympics earlier this year and on the back of what was Team GB’s most successful Games at that level, has now been appointed Great Britain’s Chef de Mission at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina in 2026.
With two of her Olympic gold medal winning teammates – Jen Dodds and Hailey Duff – among those still vying for the opportunity to represent Team GB in Milan Cortina, Muirhead is still clearly very much in tune with the needs of modern day competitors, so is ideally placed to represent them on the Athletes’ Commission and she is honoured by the opportunity.
“The Athletes’ Commission plays a vital role in any athlete’s journey and I am very proud to have been re-elected by my peers for another cycle,” she said.
“In particular, with my role as Chef de Mission for the Milan Cortina Games, I look forward to working with Lizzie (Simmonds) and the rest of the Commission to ensure that Team GB delivers a world class operation and continues to put the athlete at the heart of any decision making.”
Two-time Olympic swimmer Simmonds remains Chair of the Commission after being re-elected last month, while 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal winning trampolinist Bryony Page has, like Muirhead, been re-elected for a second term.
They are joined by Olympic bronze medallist, Lewis Richardson (Boxing), two-time winter Olympian Charlie Guest (Alpine Ski) and Tokyo 2020 Olympians Emily Muskett (Weightlifting) and Jessica Piasecki (Athletics) who have been elected to serve their first term on the Commission.
Of the existing commission, four members’ terms will draw to a close this December, with Adam Gemili (Athletics) and Lizzy Yarnold (Skeleton) completing their second terms, and Abbie Brown (Rugby) and Andrew Matthews (Bobsleigh) their first.
Simmonds said: “After a competitive election process, I am excited to welcome three new members to the Athletes’ Commission and to see Bryony and Eve return for a second term.
“Emily was appointed as a representative for progression sports in 2022 and has excelled in the role, so I am delighted to see her now elected for a full term.
“Having a wide range of experiences and perspectives is essential to our success as a group and I’m looking forward to harnessing this expertise to help shape the Team GB athlete journey toward Milan Cortina 2026 and LA 2028. 
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Lizzy, Adam, Abbie and Andrew, who will complete their terms at the end of this year. Their contributions over the last two Olympic cycles have been invaluable and it’s been a pleasure working with them.”
Formed in 2010 and made up of current and former athletes from a range of summer and winter Olympic sports, the Commission ensures that athletes are fully represented, with the Chair responsible for feeding the views of the Commission back to the BOA Board.
Eighteen Olympians were up for election with eligibility given to any athlete who has competed for Team GB at the Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 or Paris 2024 Games.
Images: Team GB / David Pearce
