US Olympic and Paralympic Athletes’ Advisory Council Primary Representative: Kelly Kjorlien
USOPC AAC Alternate: Jake Brown
US Biathlon Board of Directors Athlete Representative: Sean Doherty
International Biathlon Union Athletes’ Committee Chair: Clare Egan
Purpose
The purpose of US Biathlon athlete representatives is to represent currently active athletes on the US Biathlon Board of Directors by facilitating communication between the Board, organization and athletes. As voting members on the Board and committees, they are able to incorporate athlete perspective into Board decisions and oversight of the organization. Representatives are elected by eligible current and past teammates, thus becoming mentors to junior, senior and retired athletes. For those dual-hatted as reps to the USOPC AAC, their purpose is to ensure communication between the USOPC, currently active athletes, and the Board. Additionally, these reps serve as a source of opinion and advice to the USOPC Board of Directors with regard to both current and contemplated policies of the USOPC in coordination with athlete reps from other all other Olympic and Paralympic sports.
To learn more about the USOPC Athletes’ Advisory council, check out Team USA and relevant guiding documents and bylaws.
Athletes rights and representation
Athlete reps are critical to ensuring that the interests and rights of athletes are considered when sports organizations make decisions. The Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act requires that 20% of seats and votes are held by athletes on national governing body boards of directors, committees, and task forces within the Olympic & Paralympic movement, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) itself.
Contact
Please reach out at any time with questions, comments and concerns. We are here to support you!
Kelly Kjorlien, krkjorlien@gmail.com
Jake Brown, wjakebrown@gmail.com
Sean Doherty, sdoherty68@gmail.com
Athlete Ombuds
The Office of the Athlete Ombuds offers independent, confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights and responsibilities in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and assists athletes with a broad range of questions, disputes, complaints and concerns.
Phone: 719-866-5000
Email: ombudsman@usathlete.org
Website: usathlete.org
Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:
(A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved.(C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.(ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.
-Revised 7/12/2021