17-10-2023 (MUMBAI) Michelle Yeoh, the trailblazing Asian actress who made history as the first Asian actress to win an Oscar, has been welcomed into the prestigious International Olympic Committee (IOC). On Tuesday (Oct 17), Yeoh was officially voted in as a member during a ceremony held in Mumbai, solidifying her position as a key figure within the Olympic community.
The IOC session, which took place in the bustling Indian financial capital, saw the introduction of eight proposed members to the esteemed Olympic body. Among them was Michelle Yeoh, who boasts an impressive background as a former Malaysian junior squash champion.
Yeoh’s illustrious career reached new heights earlier this year when she clinched the coveted Academy Award for Best Lead Actress for her remarkable performance in the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Her breakthrough in Hollywood came with her portrayal as the first-ever ethnic Chinese Bond girl in the 1997 movie “Tomorrow Never Dies,” starring alongside Pierce Brosnan.
In addition to her acting prowess, Yeoh has made her mark as a producer and a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Her notable filmography includes starring roles in the martial arts epic “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,” the 2005 period drama “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and the 2018 romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The 61-year-old actress is married to Jean Todt, the former head of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which was granted recognition by the IOC in 2013.
Yeoh joins the ranks of distinguished individuals who have been newly selected as IOC members. This includes judoka Yael Arad, who secured Israel’s first Olympic medal, Hungarian businessman and sports administrator Balasz Furjes, Cecilia Roxana Tait Villacorta, a former Olympic volleyball medallist and politician from Peru, and German sports entrepreneur Michael Mronz.
Both Furjes and Mronz have been actively involved in efforts, albeit unsuccessful thus far, to bring the Olympics to Hungary and Germany respectively.
Furthermore, Petra Soerling of Sweden, the head of the International Table Tennis Federation, and Kim Jae-youl from South Korea, the president of the International Skating Union, have joined the IOC in their capacities as heads of international federations.
Completing the list of new members is Mehrez Boussayene, the President of the Tunisian Olympic Committee, who brings his wealth of experience and leadership to the IOC.
