 Pernilla Wiberg OLY has been elected as the first female President of the World Olympians Association (WOA), marking a dramatic change in leadership following intense scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee.
In a landmark General Assembly in early 2026, the double Olympic champion from Sweden secured a historic victory, mirroring the recent election of Kirsty Coventry as the first female President of the IOC. Wiberg’s ascent follows an eight-month period of turmoil for the WOA, triggered by severe "governance and financial concerns" raised by the IOC Ethics Commission in May 2025.
The commission had specifically named the previous executive leadership—President Joël Bouzou, Secretary General Anthony Ledgard, CEO Mike Miller, and Treasurer Patrick Singleton of Bermuda—in a letter that questioned the organization's internal controls. In a clear signal for reform, none of the individuals named in that report were re-elected to the new Executive Committee.
The transition has not been without its defensive salvos. Just days after the IOC's concerns became public last year, the WOA published an article titled "Another 5 years of clean financial audits for WOA," which appeared to directly counter the Ethics Commission's findings.
Bermuda’s Singleton, who served as Treasurer during the period under investigation, was central to that defense. He has never been elected, and is the self proclaimed President of Bermuda Olympians Association, was quoted emphasizing the rigidity of the WOA's financial systems:
"We have very strong controls in place. For instance, four separate signatures are needed before any payment can be made. Our highly experienced Swiss external accountant runs our accounting function. And when specific specialised tax or other advice is needed, we enlist the help of top Swiss or International legal or accounting companies."
Reports indicated that following the completion of his term as the WOA Athletes' Commission Representative in 2021, he was later removed from the IOC Medical Commission, as noted in reports from late 2023.
Despite these assurances, the voting delegates at the General Assembly opted for a clean slate, ending the decade-long tenure of the previous administration.
Wiberg enters the role with one of the most distinguished resumes in the Olympic movement. A former Alpine Skiing World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist, her administrative experience is equally formidable:
IOC Member: Served as an active member and on the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
WOA Executive: Held the position of Vice-President until her election.
Liaison: Acted as a key bridge between the WOA and the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The new Executive Committee, which includes Nigeria’s Olumide Oyedeji as Secretary General and Chinese Taipei’s Thomas Tang as Treasurer, represents a global and gender-balanced shift for the organization. Wiberg has vowed to restore full confidence in the WOA, stating that her focus will be on "transparency, inclusiveness, and placing the needs of Olympians at the heart of every decision."
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