How can athletes ensure that their voices are heard in their sports?

Mona Brorsson is an Olympic gold medallist from Sweden who retired from competing in biathlon in 2024, but is still involved through her roles as an expert commentator for Swedish TV and as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athlete Council.

As part of the BIU’s Summer of the Athletes’ Voice we spoke to Mona about her decision to retire to spend more time at home with friends and family, yet to remain involved in biathlon through her growing interest in sports governance.

Joining WADA’s Athlete Council means, she says, that she has a chance to influence the sport she’s been involved in all her life “in a more athlete-friendly way”. She says she understands the views of those athletes who are not interested in the governance of their sports, but only in competing, because she was once one of them.

But, she says, those athletes should at least be interested in who they choose to be their representatives. Sport is complex, with many different stakeholders, so it’s important that the athlete’s voice is not lost among those competing interests.

This summer, Mona is also collaborating with the BIU, supporting the development of athlete education and helping us explore new ways to connect and engage with athletes. Through the lens of her own experience as a former athlete, she brings valuable perspectives, shares lessons learned throughout her career, and helps ensure that athletes’ needs and voices remain at the centre of our work.

To listen to the interview in full, click here.