The 32-year-old from British Columbia, winner of the gold medal in the 48 kilogram freestyle category at Beijing 2008, will now represent the sport's athlete on the ruling FILA Bureau. 

She becomes the third woman on the organisation's governing body, joining Turkey's Rodica Yaksi and Russia's Natalia Yariguina.

More female representation at the highest level of the sport was part of the new direction FILA promised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when wrestling was reinstated as an Olympic sport in Buenos Aires last month having initially been recommended for exclusion after Rio 2016. 

Huynh's victory at Beijing 2008 was only Canada's second medal ever in women's wrestling and its first gold in the sport.

She returned four years later to win a bronze medal at London 2012 and was inducted into the FILA Hall of Fame during last month's World Championships in Budapest.

Carol Huynh on her way to the Olympic gold medal in the 48kg freestyle competition at Beijing 2008

She was part of the five-person team that presented wrestling's case to the IOC Session in Buenos Aires  that resulted in wrestling being saved from the Olympic axe.

"It's a great honour to have been elected by my peers to be on the Athletes' Commission and to represent them on the FILA Bureau," Huynh said.

"It is an even greater responsibility to ensure that the athletes' voice is heard.

"My goal as Athletes' Commission Representative is to help cultivate an environment in our global wrestling community in which our athletes take an active role and interest in the governance of our sport.

"This role in governance for athletes is an important step for FILA.

"It indicates that athletes are the main focus.

"With the collaboration of my fellow Athletes' Commission members, I have high hopes and confidence in the direction of our new FILA."

The Athletes' Commission was formed by FILA to hear the voices of its athletes and its seven-member group was finalised at the World Championships in September following a vote of the competitors there. 

Besides Huynh, it also includes Greece's Maria Prevolaraki, America's Jake Herbert, Japan's Kaori Icho, France's Christophe Guenot, Iran's Hamid Soryan Reihanpour and Hungary's Tomas Lorincz, Hungary.

FILA President Nenad Lalovic and Carol Huynh during the sport's presentation to the IOC Session in Buenos Aires, where it managed to save itself from exclusion after Rio 2016

"Carol has been in the sport a short time but has been a part of our history," said FILA President Nenad Lalovic.

"She helped our sport at a critical time to recapture our Olympic spot.

"And now she's part of the first Athletes' Commission in our sport's history and will represent our athletes from around the world in the FILA Bureau.

"We couldn't be prouder."

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