BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (21 September)—Seven athletes were elected by their peers  in Budapest, Hungary, at the World Wrestling Championships  to serve on the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles’ (FILA) newly formed Athlete Commission. The commission, which was part of the organization’s commitment to involve athletes in the international federation, includes three Olympic champions and wrestlers from three continents.

The athletes on the commission include Maria Prevolaraki, Greece (101 votes); Carol Huynh, Canada (100 votes); Jake Herbert, USA (97 votes); Kaori Icho, Japan (91 votes); Christophe Guenot, France (87 votes); Hamid SoryanReihanpour, Iran (81 Votes) and Tomas Lorincz, Hungary (80 votes).

One of the athletes will be elected by the members to serve on FILA’s governing body, the Bureau, and to serve as chairman of the committee.  The voting was done by the athletes representing their countries at the World Wrestling Championships.  Each athlete who made weight at the world championships  could nominate up to seven wrestlers for the committee.

“This is our new direction that we promised the IOC when we made our case to stay in the Olympic Games, “ said FILA President NenadLalovic.  “We want our current athletes involved in what we do, how we do things and to be a big part of the future that we have as an excellent organization.”

The Athlete’s Commission is one of 17 that are being named by FILA.  The others will be announced in the coming weeks as they are finalized.

The Athletes:

Jake Herbert, USA
2009 world silver medalist, 2012 Olympian, NCAA two-time wrestling champion for Northwestern University.  Active member for Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling.

Maria Prevolaraki, Greece
Mediterranean Games champion, London 2012 Olympian, last year  was third in Women’s World Championships, silver medalist in European championships.  Trains at Club Ethniko in Athens.

Carol Huynh, Canada
2008 Olympic Gold medalist, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, parents are Chinese refugees who immigrated to Canada.  Huynh entered the Wrestling Hall of Fame here in Budapest on Friday.  She was a member of FILA’s presentation team in Buenos Aires at the IOC Session.

Kaori Icho, Japan
Three-time Olympic gold medalist, won eight world titles, including one in Budapest.  Sister Chiharu is a two-time silver medalist in the Olympic Games:  in Athens and Beijing.  Comes from Aomori in Northern Japan, Wrestles for ALCOK Wrestling Club in Tokyo.

Christophe Guenot, France
Bronze medalist in 2008 Olympic Games.  Older brother Steeve was the gold medalist in Beijing at 66 kg.  

Hamid Soryan Reihanpour, Iran… Five- time world champion in Greco-Roman …Iran’s first Greco Olympic champion in London in 2012.  Taking a year off from competition.

Tomas Lorincz, Hungary… Silver medalist London, European champion this year, hasn’t lost since London,   brother Viktor is also on world team.  He’s from Cegled Basutas Sport Club.  

About FILA
FILA, the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, is the global governing body of the sport of wrestling. It works to promote the sport and facilitate the activities of its 177 national federations from around the world. It is based in Corsier-Sur-Vevey, Switzerland. For additional details about FILA, please contact FILA at 41.21 312 84 26 or Bob Condron, Press Officer, condron@fila-wrestling.com