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Sport Integrity Australia has advised that four-time Paralympian and six-time world record holder Ellie Cole, has joined their Athlete Advisory Group to provide an athlete voice on sport integrity issues.

The role of the Athlete Advisory Group, which includes 12 athletes from Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports, is to inform the Sport Integrity Australia policies and strategies which impact athletes, drawing on their insights into the pressures and influences that can threaten the integrity of sport.

Cole is one of Australia’s most accomplished Paralympians having been awarded 17 Paralympic medals and an Order of Australia Medal. She says she chose to join the Group to help provide a safe, fair and inclusive environment for athletes from grassroots all the way to elite sport.

Cole advised “as athletes we have a wealth of lived experience to provide to Sport Integrity Australia. The biggest challenge in this space is for athletes to have a comprehensive understanding of what currently threatens integrity.

“Sport Integrity Australia do a fantastic job in educating its members on what these threats look like and how to mitigate these threats.”

Sport Integrity Australia notes that when it comes to sport integrity, Cole - who is also an Executive Member of the Australian Swimmers Association - is most passionate about member protection.

“I have a particular interest in protecting members of sporting organisations from bullying, intimidation, harassment and discrimination,” she says.

Sport Integrity Australia Chief Executive David Sharpe says to truly understand the pressures within sports the agency needs to work closely in partnership with everyone who holds a piece to the puzzle – and that includes athletes.

“I couldn’t be happier to have Ellie on the Advisory Group,” Sharpe says. “She joins a team of athletes, all whom are leaders in their sport, to help us ensure that no one in sport is left behind.”

Sharpe says that the athletes’ voice has never been more important adding “everything we do at Sport Integrity Australia is athlete-focused. Everything we do is about protecting athletes, and protecting the integrity of their sport – whether that’s on the national or international stage, or on a remote country ground or court.”

The Athlete Advisory Group
Ellie Cole, 4 x Paralympian, 6 x world record holder, Executive Member of the Australian Swimmers Association
Bronwen Knox, 4 x Olympian (water polo), 2 x Olympic Bronze medallist, Sport Integrity Australia education presenter.
Damon Kelly, 2 x Olympian, 2 x National Champion, former Australian Weightlifting Federation board director
Cassie Fien, Marathon runner. Won 2016 Oceania Half Marathon Championships. Sanctioned athlete
Jenna O’Hea, Australian Opals Captain, Lifeline Mental Health Ambassador
Jonathan Goerlach, Paralympic triathlete, 5 x Australian National Paratriathlon Champion, Member of World Triathlon Athlete Committee
Katrina Fanning, most capped female rugby league player in the world when she retired. Board Member, Canberra Raiders & Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council
Bronwen Downie, Olympic rower, 2 x World Rowing Championship Gold medallist. Former NSW State board member
Blake Gaudry, 2 x Olympic trampolinist, 11x Australian National Champion, Athletes’ representative
Tom Symonds, Rugby league player, Players Operations Manager at Rugby League Players Association
Sam Poolman, Retired professional netball player, Board Member Australia Netball Players Association
Eric Mackenzie, West Coast Eagles AFL player, AFL Players Association players’ delegate, International Testing Agency athlete ambassador.

Image: Ellie Cole, 4 x Paralympian, 6 x world record holder, Executive Member of the Australian Swimmers Associatio. Courtesy Swimming Australia  

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