Triple Olympic trampoline athlete Dylan Schmidt is one of two new members elected to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Athletes’ Commission.
The Athletes’ Commission is an advisory group made up of Summer and Winter Olympians and Commonwealth Games representatives which acts as the athletes’ voice to ensure that athlete views are represented, heard, and considered within the NZOC and in its decision making, and has a representative on the NZOC Board.
Schmidt put his name forward when all Paris and Tokyo Olympians were invited to stand for the three spots available. Paris Olympians were then asked to vote, and Schmidt was successfully elected.
“Getting voted in by other athletes is awesome. It shows me the confidence that other athletes have in me to share their opinions through a more structured level of athlete voice, that is heard at board level.” Schmidt says.
“Over my four-year term I would like to see actionable change. One focus will be the selection piece that I feel can be more dialled-in from an athlete perspective.”
Schmidt’s motivations for standing were to effect change and ensure that the athlete environment is continually improving for the current and next generation.
“I’m really looking forward to having the discussions with the wider community and being able to bring those voices to the Commission for us to then help facilitate changes for the better.” Schmidt adds.
“As an athlete who has gone from grass roots to Olympian, we know that Dylan has a lot of value to add to the Commission”, says Gymnastics NZ Head of Gymnastics David Phillips.
“He remains very active in the community so it is great to have gymnastics represented at this level of governance.”
Schmidt was elected with fellow new member Eliza McCartney (athletics), and Max Brown (canoe/kayak) was re-elected for a second term. They join Chair Richie Patterson (weightlifting), Marcus Daniell (tennis), Julia Ratcliffe (athletics), Beau-James Wells (freestyle skiing) and Kayla Whitelock (hockey) on the Commission.