Three-time South African Olympian Bridgitte Hartley has been chosen as one of thirty candidates by the International Olympic Committee EB as a nominee for the Athletics Commission election.
Hartley, who competes in the K1500m and K2500m events, participated in the 2008, the 2012 Olympics where she won a bronze medal in the K1 500m event and the 2016 Olympics. Besides her Olympic success, she has also won bronze in the 2009, 2014 and 2018 World Championships.
When Hartley isn’t canoeing, she fulfils the role of being a canoeing coach for South African athletes, as well as having been on the National Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission in 2018.
Having worn the South African green and gold for thirteen years, Hartley was chosen as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the African Games in September. Hartley added that, “I always wear my national kit with pride and to see us lining up against other African nations is also a proud moment. As an athlete one can never take anything for granted and after I won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, there was never any guarantee that I would carry on canoeing at the highest international level. But here I am, seven years later – and loving it.”
Hartley received her nomination from the National Olympic Committee and National Olympic Committee Athlete’s Commission, where she will compete against 29 other candidates for one of the four positions within the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission. Voting is set to take place during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where all participating athletes will be allowed to vote.
Photo 1 Caption: Bridgitte Hartley on the podium at the 2012 Olympics. Photo: Bridgitte Hartley/Facebook
With editing by gsport