Ruggiero Elected to IOC Athletes' Commission

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America

VANCOUVER – Four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero (Simi Valley, Calif.), a former Harvard standout, was elected as one of two individuals to represent athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission, as announced today by the IOC. The election took place over the last three weeks in the Vancouver and Whistler Athlete Villages, as athletes from around the world selected Ruggiero and skeleton athlete Adam Pengilly from Great Britian for the two open positions.

The Commission, which meets once or twice a year, serves as a consultative body and is the link between active athletes and the IOC, the national governing body for the Games. The Commission represents athletes within the Olympic Movement and also upholds the rights and obligations of the athletes.

“It is a tremendous honor to be voted by my fellow Olympians to become a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and I want to thank everyone who has put their faith and trust in me," said Ruggiero. "I will do all I can to be a good ambassador of the Olympic Movement and represent athlete issues not just from North America, but from around the world.”

The appointment of Ruggiero and Pengilly will be for eight years and allows them to become full-fledged members of the IOC. The pair were among nine current and former Olympians in the election. Ruggiero will become the third IOC member from the United States, as she joins Jim Easton and Anita DeFrantz.

"This is a very fitting position for Angela and USA Hockey couldn't be more proud," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "She has been a true ambassador for our sport and the entire Olympic Movement, and will provide outstanding representation and diplomacy for all athletes in her new role with the IOC."

Ruggiero, a native of Simi Valley, Calif., is a four-time Olympic medalist and has played more games for Team USA than any other ice hockey player (250). She graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in government and is currently pursuing her master's degree at the University of Minnesota. She has been involved in many charitable causes including the ProSports MVP Olympic Heroes Tour, Charles B. Wang Ice Hockey “Project Hope”, Right to Play, Teams of Angels and momsteam.com. In 2004, ESPN.com named her one of the top-16 female athletes in the world.

Ruggiero and the rest of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team will compete in the gold-medal game against Canada tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. ET).