AOC: Matt Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), today announced the appointment of dual Olympian Daniel Kowalski OAM as Olympian Services Manager and welcomed him to the AOC.
“The AOC has prioritised engagement with the Olympic alumni, placing a greater focus on assisting athletes during their career and in life after sport. This position takes responsibility for managing the AOC’s Athlete Transition program including mentoring, developing opportunities for internships, education and creating career development opportunities,” Carroll said.
“Daniel’s Olympic experience and his work with the Swimmers Association gives him an enormous understanding and appreciation to know exactly what it takes for an athlete to be competitive at the highest level and the journey to get there. Just as important is the journey an athlete takes after retirement and the challenges it brings.
“This depth of knowledge places Daniel in a perfect position to manage the AOC’s Olympian services programs. Daniel is an important appointment for the AOC and I welcome him to our Team,” Carroll said.
A four-time Olympic medallist, Kowalski competed in Swimming at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and since retirement has gained 15 years of experience in sports administration and athlete advocacy implementing athlete support and career programs.
“The AOC already has an active Athletes Commission who provide advice regularly to the AOC Executive. Having Daniel join the AOC management team brings the athletes’ voice directly into the AOC’s day-to-day operations,” Carroll continued.
Most recently Daniel’s career has seen him representing athletes on the Australian Swimmers Association and he is looking forward to using that experience to assist current and future Olympic athletes.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Olympic Committee,” Daniel said. “As a proud Olympian, to have the opportunity to work in an environment where I can better the lives of the current athletes as well as those recently retired, is really important to me.
“I think there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the transition space, and it’s definitely a challenge, but I’m excited by that because it’s something that is extremely important for an athlete from a wellbeing point of view and to have the opportunity to run this program is quite an honour.”
Daniel will also be responsible for growing the AOC’s Alumni programs, strengthening the network opportunities between Olympians and the AOC, as well as providing opportunities for our Olympians to engage with the community. In addition, the role will also develop the framework and programs to service the Australian Teams competing at regional, Youth Olympic and Olympic Games.
Daniel joins the AOC’s wider team responsible for implementing community engagement programs and will start in August 2018.
olympics.com.au
