Tom King to chair AOC Athletes Commission

by Natalie Francis, Yachting Australia on 6 Nov 2004 Not long after being elected to the Australian Olympic Committee, retired 2000 Olympic Gold medallist Tom King has been announced as the chairman of the AOC Athletes Commission.

King won the position over aerial skier, Jacqui Cooper, a former world champion in the sport, who has previously been deputy chair with the Commission.

King automatically become appointed to the AOC board and is now the effective voice of all athletes. Being one half of the successful duo in the 470 class at the 2000 Games (he skippered the Gold medal winning Australian 470), King’s impressive list of credentials and his leadership qualities asserted him as the front runner for the position.

Before the election, Cooper acknowledged King's credentials and pledged her support if he was elected, labelling him a 'top bloke'.

Madam Butterfly, swimmer Susie O'Neil, rower Drew Ginn and Tae Kwondo exponent, Lauren, Burns were among the 11 members of the board to vote.