Murofushi fails in bid to be elected to IOC Athletes' Commission

Thursday 21st August, 05:49 PM JST

BEIJING —

Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi failed in his bid to be elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission after ending in 15th place in the voting for four commissioners held during the Beijing Games, the IOC said Thursday. Murofushi, gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Games who was nominated by the Japanese Olympic Committee for the post, received 908 out of 7,216 valid votes cast by fellow Olympians for a total of 29 candidates, the IOC said. ‘‘I lost but was able to gain very valuable experience through the election campaign activities. I felt the diversity of the Olympics,’’ said Murofushi, who finished in fifth place in the men’s hammer throw final in Beijing.

South Korea’s Moon Dae Sung, winner of the men’s 80-kilogram taekwondo title in Athens, and Russian Alexander Popov, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, were among the four elected for eight-year terms during which they will represent athletes as IOC members. The two others are Claudia Bokel, a member of the German women’s fencing team that claimed silver in the epee final four years ago, and Ruiz-Luaces Yumilka of Cuba who got the women’s volleyball bronze with her teammates at Athens.

Kyodo

4 Comments

flammenwerfer at 09:57 PM JST - 21st August

That's a shame, he is down to earth and a smart guy (Ph.D) and would have done a good job.
Pukey2 at 10:07 PM JST - 21st August

You don't need a PhD for that!
timeon at 10:12 PM JST - 21st August

I like the guy and I'm sorry for this fail. He's half Romanian half Japanese and he became a star by hard work and great achievements, not by posing as half foreigner who speaks good Japanese and tries to be funny on TV
ExPrinceska at 11:31 AM JST - 22nd August

Murofushi is a great guy, he was able to get a PhD and be the best in his sport, a truly remarkable achievement. I respect him a lot and I am sure he will be elected next time. He is still, with his 5th place, the best placed track and field participant in Pekin from team Japan, I think. Actually, he is the only male athlete who can give Japan a medal in the track and field events in recent years.