Golden 25 -- #14 Claudia Bokel

(ATR) Athletes Commission chair Claudia Bokel has taken to the role with gusto since she succeeded Frank Fredericks in 2012.

Ever enthusiastic in her quest to protect the welfare of the athletes she represents, the German is an engaging presence at Olympic meetings and events. In 2013, she has racked up thousands of air miles attending functions staged by the IOC and NOCs.

Close to Thomas Bach, like her an Olympic fencer, the Athens 2004 silver medalist symbolizes one of a new crop of IOC rising stars with age on their side.

The 40-year-old not only sits on the IOC’s ruling body, she tweets about it, along with posting messages and photos from her work criss-crossing the globe. She’s the most active IOC member on Twitter, and with the IOC attempting to bring the Olympics and its values to the younger generation, this is a big positive.

With the Nanjing Youth Olympics coming up, Bokel will be a key figure in raising the profile of the Games and providing input into Bach’s expected rejig of the YOG concept in 2014.

An IOC member since 2008, Bokel is also a member of the entourage and ethics commissions.

2013 ranking: 24

Reported by Mark Bisson

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