Malaysia’s very own Oscar-winning actor, Michelle Yeoh, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a seat on the International Olympic Committee. This achievement comes on the heels of her historic win as the first Asian woman to claim an Academy Award for her outstanding performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
With an impressive vote of 67 in favor, nine against, and one abstention, Michelle Yeoh was elected as one of the eight new members on the final day of the 141st IOC session held in Mumbai, India.
As the news of her election was announced, an emotional Michelle Yeoh stood up, placing her hand over her heart in a gesture of gratitude. She, along with the other newly elected members, then solemnly took the Olympic oath.
Yeoh, a dynamic 61-year-old, who has been accompanied by her husband, Jean Todt, the former president of the motorsport governing body FIA, was also honored with an IOC member medal presented by the IOC’s president, Thomas Bach.
Before the vote took place, Britain’s Princess Anne, who chairs the IOC’s member election committee, introduced Yeoh as “a Malaysia junior squash champion” and highlighted her diverse talents beyond the sporting arena.
Michelle Yeoh’s Hollywood breakthrough came in 1997 when she starred alongside Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies.” She further cemented her reputation through iconic roles in martial arts masterpieces such as “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.”
The prestigious election on Tuesday also welcomed other notable figures, including Israel’s first Olympic medallist, Yael Arad; Hungarian entrepreneur and sports administrator Balazs Furjes; Cecilia Tait, a former Olympic medallist and prominent politician from Peru; and German sports entrepreneur Michael Mronz. Each of these esteemed individuals had been previously nominated as individual members by the IOC’s executive board back in September.
The election also extended to Sweden’s Petra Soerling, who leads the International Table Tennis Federation, and South Korean Kim Jae-youl, the president of the International Skating Union, recognized for their roles within international sports federations.
Adding further diversity to the IOC’s composition, Mehrez Boussayene, the president of the Tunisian Olympic Committee, was elected as an ex-officio member.
Thomas Bach, the IOC’s president, emphasized the value that these newly elected members bring to the organization, thanks to their diverse expertise and experiences across various domains.