Jens Kroker elected to Athletes' Commission

Three-time Paralympic medallist, Jens Kroker - Para World Sailing Championships 2017, kiel, Germany © World Sailing

Germany's three-time Paralympic medallist, Jens Kroker, has been elected to World Sailing's Athletes' Commission, becoming the first Para World Sailing representative in the commission.

Since its inception, World Sailing's Athletes' Commission was open only to sailors who had competed at an Olympic Sailing Competition.

At the 2017 Annual Conference, World Sailing's Council approved the inclusion of a Para World Sailing representative into the Athletes' Commission as many issues considered by the Commission affect Olympians and Paralympians.

Sailors who competed at the 2017 World Championships were able to vote for a representative who competed at the worlds.

Kroker was voted in by his peers ahead of Neil Patterson (AUS), Tomas Saez Raffaeli (BRA) and Shinya Yamamoto (JPN).

"I feel very honoured to have been elected by the Para World Sailing community to represent our sport in the Athletes' Commission of World Sailing," commented Kroker.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute my knowledge in competitive sailing to help the sport to further grow. One main goal will obviously be to achieve reinstatement of sailing into the Paralympics in 2024. With the support of all sailors and World Sailing I strongly believe that as one team we can do it."

Kroker has been a regular at Para World Sailing events, first making an appearance in 1997. He has sailed at every Paralympic Sailing Competition, winning silver at Sydney 2000, gold at Beijing 2008 and a silver at London 2012.

The German joins the following members of the Athletes' Commission:

• Yann Rocherieux (FRA) – Chair
• Sofia Bekatorou (GRE) – Vice-Chair
• Jo Aleh (NZL)
• Maayan Davidovich (ISR)
• Juan Ignacio Maegli (GUA)
• Vasilij Zbogar (SLO)
• Sarah Gosling (GBR)
• Lijia Xu (CHN)

World Sailing Athletes' Commission

The World Sailing Athletes' Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the Olympic and Para World Sailing events and reports directly to World Sailing Board of Directors. The Athletes' Commission is composed of athletes representing Olympic and Para World Sailing events, and is elected by the athletes themselves.

The Athletes Commission elect members to sit on Events, Equipment, Para World Sailing and Race Officials Committees as well as receiving invites to Working Parties considering Olympic sailing and Para World Sailing matters, and selection of World Championships venues.