Table tennis legend Funke Oshonaike has made history as the first Nigerian appointed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, following her nomination by IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
Seven-time Olympian Oshonaike is among five new members appointed to ensure the Commission reaches full composition ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
In a statement released on Thursday, December 4, the IOC confirmed the appointments of Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha (Iran, badminton), Husein Alireza (Saudi Arabia, rowing), Cheick Sallah Cissé (Côte d’Ivoire, taekwondo), Olufunke Oshonaike (Nigeria, table tennis), and Mariana Pajón (Colombia, cycling).
“The Athletes’ Commission is essential in making sure athletes remain at the heart of everything we do,” Coventry said. “I am deeply grateful to our new members for their commitment and the wealth of experience they bring in service to athletes worldwide.”
Reacting to her appointment Oshonaike said:“I am so excited because during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games campaign, I was impressed by the huge support from my country and athletes across the world. This appointment confirms that my efforts did not go unnoticed. It has been my dream to impact the sport that has given me the rare opportunity to live well in life.”
With these appointments, the IOC Athletes’ Commission now has 23 members from all continents, including a representative from the Refugee Olympic Team.
Also, the body features 13 women and 10 men, representing 15 summer sports and five winter sports.
The IOC AC plays a central role in the Olympic Movement, ensuring athletes’ voices are heard at the highest level. The Commission is composed of up to 23 members—12 elected directly by athletes during the Games and up to 11 appointed by the IOC President to ensure balanced representation across gender, regions, and sports.
Oshonaike represented Nigeria in seven consecutive Olympic Games from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2020.
She currently serves on both the Nigeria National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission and the Nigeria Table Tennis Athletes’ Commission.
