Congratulations! Maltese Paralympian Vladyslava Kravchenko named Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council
Earlier this year, Vladyslava was also honoured with the title of one of Europe Leaders for the Obama Foundation
Vladyslava Kravchenko is an accomplished Paralympian and Para swimmer who represented Malta at both the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Having been re-elected to the International Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council with the second-highest vote count earlier this year, she has now also been elected as the prestigious role of Chairperson to head the same council.
The IPC Athletes’ Council is the collective voice of Paralympic and Para athletes within the IPC and the greater Paralympic Movement. Vladyslava has expressed her enthusiasm for promoting Para sport in nations where it is currently underdeveloped, ‘including small states, developing nations, regions in conflict, and countries with recently established National Paralympic Committees (NPCs)’.
The IPC Athletes’ Council is made up of nine athletes in total, which includes six summer athletes and three winter athletes. The five summer sport members in addition to Kravchenko are: Martina Caironi (Italy, Para athletics), Lenine Cunha (Portugal, Para athletics), Denise Schindler (Germany, Para cycling), Yujiao Tan (China, Para powerlifting) and Yoomin Won (Korea, wheelchair basketball). The three winter sport council members are Josh Dueck (Canada, Para alpine skiing), Mitchell Gourley (Australia, Para alpine skiing) and Birgit Skarstein (Norway, Para Nordic skiing).
All Athletes’ Council members are active Paralympic athletes, meaning they must have competed in the current edition of the Paralympic Games at which the election is taking place or have competed in either of the previous two editions of the Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016).
Two months ago, Vladyslava was also selected as one of the 36 Europe Leaders for the Obama Foundation, among 205 leaders chosen globally. Her continued success is a testament to her influence both in sport and in leadership on the global stage.
Well done, Vladyslava!