IOC announces first Athlete Role Models for Gangwon 2024

Seventeen Olympic champions, Olympic medallists and Olympians, all former or current world-class athletes, have been announced as Athlete Role Models (ARMs) for the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024. They will support, advise and inspire the young athletes taking part.

The ARM Programme is part of the wider Athlete Education Programme (AEP), which was designed to maximise the learning experience of all the athletes and their entourage members during the YOG. The ARMs will act as mentors for those competing in Gangwon, sharing the experience and knowledge they have gained from their own Olympic careers. The ARMs will be on hand in Gangwon to support the young athletes during training and competitions, and in the Youth Olympic Village during a series of educational activities and workshops.

They are:

• Vanessa Hinz (GER, biathlon)

• Dominik Windisch (ITA, biathlon)

• Jackie Narracott (AUS, skeleton)

• Won Yun-jong (KOR, bobsleigh)

• Jennifer Dodds (GBR, curling)

• Kim Chang-min (KOR, curling)

• Eliza Tiruma (LAT, luge)

• Sascha Benecken (GER, luge)

• Min Yura (KOR, figure skating)

• Michal Brezina (CZE, figure skating)

• Nao Kodaira (JPN, speed skating)

• Viktor Polasek (CZE, ski jumping)

• Carina Vogt (GER, ski jumping)

• Han Da Som (KOR, cross-country skiing)

• Magnus Boee (NOR, cross-country skiing)

• Sami Kennedy-Sim (AUS, freestyle skiing)

• Eric Frenzel (GER, Nordic combined)

The ARM Programme has been an integral part of the YOG since the first edition in Singapore in 2010, providing the young athletes competing with a chance to learn from experienced Olympians.

The ARMs are not only on site during competition to speak with the young athletes; they are also involved in the educational activities taking place at Athlete365 House as part of the AEP. These include discussing skills and topics to help the athletes’ development, such as career management, injury prevention, digital storytelling and more. For example, in the pre-YOG programme, young athletes and their entourage are encouraged to take an e-learning course on Athlete365 to learn more about the prevention of competition manipulation, and safeguarding, mental health and anti-doping. The course is available in 10 languages.

The ARMs, in coordination with each International Federation, will host Inside Sport Sessions, providing an opportunity for the young athletes to dive deeper into their sport with tailored Q&A sessions, sports demonstrations and even fireside chats depending on the sport.

The Winter YOG Gangwon 2024 will take place from 19 January to 1 February 2024, with biathlon competitions being held on 20 January - 24 January 2024.

Photo: IBU/Manzoni