The World Olympians Association has today unveiled the newest Olympians for Life as part of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
Simidele Adeagbo OLY, Alain Calmat OLY, Clara Hughes OLY, Shiva Keshavan OLY and Ben Sandford OLY have all been recognised for their outstanding contributions to winter sport and the promotion of the Olympic Values during and after their competitive careers.
All five Olympians were awarded their accolade during a live streamed Olympians for Life event, part of OLY House Beijing 2022. The event was hosted by Jamaican Olympian and inspiration for the film Cool Runnings Chris Stokes OLY and the new Olympians for Life were inducted by WOA Patron Prince Albert II of Monaco OLY and WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY. The recording can be seen here.
Olympians for Life Beijing 2022:
· Simidele Abdeagbo OLY – Nigeria, Skeleton: For her ongoing work to inspire and empower girls from some of the world’s most marginalised communities through the power of winter sport.
· Alain Calmat OLY – France, Figure Skating: For his dedication to medicine and politics and giving back to society after a life in sport.
· Clara Hughes OLY – Canada, Speed Skating and Cycling: For her work in encouraging meaningful conversations within sport and supporting others to combat the stigma around mental illness.
· Shiva Keshavan OLY – India, Luge: For his trailblazing achievements and initiatives in grassroots development programmes to grow winter sports within India.
· Ben Sandford OLY – New Zealand, Skeleton: For leading the fight for cleaner sport and championing integrity, fairness and equality within sport.
World Olympians Association President, Joël Bouzou OLY, said: “We are delighted to be inducting five outstanding individuals into Olympians for Life, celebrating the achievements from their competitive career and beyond. Their stories show that an Olympian is much more than a champion and illustrate that the Olympic Values spread far wider than their respective sports.”
Find out more about OLY House Beijing 2022.