Lizzy Yarnold is one of six Olympians that have been appointed onto the BOA's Athletes’ Commission ©Getty Images

Six athletes have been appointed to the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) Athletes’ Commission after voting among their peers.

Sprinter Adam Gemili, rugby sevens star James Rodwell and cyclist Joanna Rowsell Shand were all appointed to the Commission which was formed in 2010 and meets every two months.

Swimmer Lizzie Simmonds and skeleton gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, who was the sole Winter Olympian among the 18 nominees seeking election, will also join the Commission for the first time in the New Year, while rower Katherine Grainger has also been re-elected.

In total, more than 800 eligible Olympians and potential Olympians voted in the election with 18 athletes standing for the six positions.

Applications for nomination were open to all British Olympians who had competed at a Summer or Winter Olympics in the last 12 years.

The successful six athletes will serve a four-year term on the 12-member Commission, which also includes its chair Ben Hawes and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission representative Adam Pengilly, another skeleton athlete.

Basketball player Eric Boateng, short track speed skater Jon Eley, sailor Sarah Gosling, curling’s Claire Hamilton, badminton’s Nathan Robertson and javelin thrower Goldie Sayers are also current members of the Commission.

Of the existing Commission, six members’ terms are set to draw to a close in December.

James Rodwell has also been elected ©Getty Images
James Rodwell has also been elected ©Getty Images

Grainger, Heather Fell and Christian Malcolm all stood for re-election while James Cracknell, Kate Richardson-Walsh and Leon Taylor will stand down from their position at the end of the year.

The Commission, which was created in 2010 to bring the perspective and expertise of Olympic athletes to the many initiatives and programmes operated by the BOA, ensures that "the athlete is at the heart of everything the organisation does".

"The elections have been a great success with a record number of athletes voting on who they want to represent them on the Athletes’ Commission," said Hawes, a hockey player.

"I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the new members and also a return for Katherine, who will continue to be a valuable asset to the group.

"Having a broad range of sports, experiences and viewpoints is hugely important in helping deliver for the athlete community and we now look forward to contributing to the success of Great Britain at Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020 and beyond."