Chinese speed skater Zhang Hong elected member of IOC

Chinese speed skater Zhang Hong was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission Sunday for a term of eight years. She was nominated by IOC President Thomas Bach.

As the only speed skater on the commission, she will work as a 'bridge' for athletes to be heard by the committee, Zhang said.

Zhang won the gold in the women's 1,000 meter speed skating event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, which was the first speed skating gold medal for China in the Winter Olympics. At the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the 29-year-old speed skater competed with an injury, and ranked 11th in the women's 1,000m and the 15th in the women's 500m.

At the same time, Yang Yang, the first Chinese Winter Olympics gold winner, will fulfill her eight-year term on the IOC, a position she's held since 2010. Yang Yang has won 59 world titles in her sports career, and is one of the most decorated short-track speed skaters of all time.

IOC members are selected by other members or the president of the IOC. They are assigned to permanent or temporary committees and working groups when necessary by the IOC president, who presides over all IOC activities.