As Europe’s best athletes prepare to compete for medals in Birmingham, they will also have the opportunity to shape the future of the sport by electing the European Athletics Athletes’ Committee for the 2026–2030 term.
The Committee provides a vital platform for athletes to influence decision-making across European Athletics, ensuring that the views and experiences of competitors are represented at every level of the organisation.
Made up of eight elected members – four women and four men – the Athletes’ Committee serves as the collective voice of Europe’s elite athletes.
Working closely with the European Athletics Council, the Committee discusses issues affecting competitors on and off the track, from competition matters and athlete welfare to integrity, safeguarding and the long-term development of the sport.
The Committee Chair also sits on the European Athletics Council with full voting rights, ensuring that athletes have a direct seat at the table.
Birmingham Election
Voting will take place during the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships, with all accredited athletes eligible to cast their vote for four female and four male candidates during the accreditation process, from 5-15 August.
The results of the election will be announced on Sunday 16 August.
The eight successful candidates will serve a four-year mandate, representing athletes from across Europe and helping to guide the future direction of athletics on the continent.
Standing for election requires more than sporting success alone. Candidates must have competed at a European Athletics Championships within the last six years and demonstrate their commitment to the values of the sport through anti-doping, safeguarding and ethical compliance education.
Nominated by their Member Federations, they bring a wealth of experience from across disciplines and nations, united by a shared ambition to make a positive difference for their fellow athletes.
The nominees standing for election to the European Athletics Athletes’ Committee for the 2026–2030 term are listed below.
Men nominees
Name: Sandis Dzenītis
Member Federation: Latvia
Experience:
- Nine times national champion in triple jump and long jump
- Represented Latvia since 2023
- Competed at Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships
He says: “My goal would be to make athletics more visible, more engaging and more connected to people — from professional athletes to amateurs, companies, fans and the younger generation.”
Name: Mykhaylo Kokhan
Member Federation: Ukraine
Experience:
- Olympic and European hammer bronze
- 2 x European U23 hammer champion
- Competed at two European Athletics Championships
- Represented Ukraine since 2017
He says: “I’m a very motivated person and I want to be a man who listens to athletes, hears them and is ready to help at any time. The world is changing every day and sport must improve. I have extensive experience as an athlete and fully understand from the inside what athletes need.”
Name: Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake
Member Federation: Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Experience:
- Olympic 4x100m bronze, world 4x100m gold
- 2 x European 200m silver, 2 x European 4x100m gold
- Represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 2011
He says: “My desire to serve on the European Athletics Athletes’ Committee stems from a genuine commitment to ensuring athletes are not merely consulted but meaningfully understood and effectively represented.”
Name: Attila Molnár
Member Federation: Hungary
Experience:
- European indoor 400m gold medallist
- World indoor 4x400m bronze medallist
- Represented Hungary since 2018
He says: “I am deeply committed to ensuring that the transition from a clean, junior athlete to the elite senior level is supported by fair conditions, transparent regulations, and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their country's size.”
Name: Nick Smidt
Member Federation: The Netherlands
Experience:
- World indoor 4x400m bronze
- European indoor mixed 4x400m gold, 4x400m gold
- Represented the Netherlands since 2015
- Competed at three European Athletics Championships
He says: “As an active international athlete, I understand both the opportunities and challenges athletes face every day – from performance pressure to balancing life outside sport. I want to make sure athlete feel heard and represented.”
Name: Ján Volko
Member Federation: Slovak Republic
Experience:
- European indoor 60m gold, silver and bronze
- European U23 200m gold, 100m silver
- Represented Slovak Republic since 2015
- Competed at four European Athletics Championships
He says: “I want to be a voice that reminds everyone that every athlete—whether from a powerhouse nation or a smaller country like Slovakia—deserves a fair shot and professional support that makes sense in the modern world."
Women nominees
Name: Anastasiia Bryzgina
Member Federation: Ukraine
Experience:
- European indoor 4x400m bronze medallist
- Represented Ukraine since 2016
- Competed at 2018 European Athletics Championships
- Competed at two European Athletics Indoor Championships
She says: “If I am elected to the European Athletics Athletes’ Committee, I want to be a strong voice for athletes and help create positive change within our sport. I want to break harmful stereotypes and challenge old systems that no longer serve athletes in the best way, while still preserving the core values of sport: discipline, respect, resilience, and excellence.”
Name: Federica Curriazzi
Member Federation: Italy
Experience:
- National Champion in 35k and 10,000m race walk
- World Race Walking Team Championships, marathon, 4th
- Competed at two European Athletics Championships
- Represented Italy since 2010
She says: “I have competed at international level for many years, while at the same time pursuing my professional career as a teacher. This dual path has strengthened my understanding of discipline, perseverance, and long-term planning—values that I believe are at the heart of every athlete’s journey.”
Name: Ella Junnila
Member Federation: Finland
Experience:
- European indoor high jump bronze
- European U23 high jump bronze
- Competed at three European Athletics Championships
- Represented Finland since 2017
She says: “I have been involved with different organisations on a national level for past five years which all aim to make sports a better place, especially for athletes. I’ve enjoyed this time greatly and I am eager to expand my knowledge in EAAC and continue to work towards better and fairer sport.”
Name: Lovisa Lindh
Member Federation: Sweden
Experience:
- European 800m bronze medallist
- Nine-times national 800m champion
- Competed at four European Athletics Championships
- Represented Sweden 2009-2024
She says: “I strongly believe in fair sport and have though my career experienced both fair and unfair decisions. I have been a lot involved in the work to reach fair selections in Sweden and, since I retired last year, I’m now working as an assistant coach and mentor in my previous (international) training group.”
Member Federation: Lithuania
Experience:
- European indoor high jump gold, bronze
- European high jump silver
- Competed at six European Athletics Championships
- Represented Lithuania since 2008
She says: “European Athletes’ Committee deserves representatives who don't just understand elite sport – but also deeply understand the athlete’s life – the full picture: the ambition, the vulnerability, the career beyond the finish line. I do understand all of it. And I'm ready to put that understanding to work for all of us.”
Name: Pia Skrzyszowska
Member Federation: Poland
Experience:
- European 100m hurdles gold, bronze, 4x100m silver
- European and world indoor 60m hurdles bronze
- Competed at two European Athletics Championships
- Represented Poland since 2018
She says: “As an active athlete, I understand how important it is for athletes to feel heard, supported and properly represented. I would also like to contribute to increasing awareness around athlete wellbeing, safeguarding and creating a safe environment within sport.”
Name: Ivana Španović
Member Federation: Serbia
Experience:
- World long jump gold, silver, bronze
- 2 x European and 2 x World indoor long jump gold
- Olympic long jump bronze
- Competed at six European Athletics Championships
- Represented Serbia since 2005
She says: “I believe it is important that athletes are heard, respected, and actively involved in shaping the future of our sport. Open communication, mutual understanding, and strong athlete representation are essential in creating the best possible environment for both current and future generations of athletes — during our careers and beyond them.”
Name: Selina von Jackowski
Member Federation: Switzerland
Experience:
- World University Games 4x100m gold medallist
- Competed at two European Athletics Indoor Championships
- Represented Switzerland since 2017
She says: “I want to join the EA Athletes’ Committee because I care deeply about improving and supporting the athletic experience beyond performance, both during and after athletes’ journey in sport.”