Bryony Pitman elected field representative to athletes committee in Yankton

World number two Bryony Pitman has been elected as the field archery representative on World Archery’s athletes committee after a vote held during practice yesterday at the World Archery Field Championships in Yankton, USA.

Pitman replaces British compatriot Naomi Folkard, who was also chair of the committee, following the five-time Olympian’s retirement from the sport and transition into coaching.

Crystal Gauvin has been appointed as the new chair of the committee.

The field representative is elected by athletes competing at the discipline’s championships. Folkard held the position since 2016 and had her term extended by two years from the standard four with the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Pitman was the only candidate for the position in 2022. She required a majority to be elected and received 91% of the 44 expressed votes in favour.

The athletes committee represents the voice of archers in World Archery’s governance. The chair of the committee, who is appointed by the president, also sits on the executive board.

Pitman has had a break-out season in 2022.

The 25-year-old won the Hyundai Archery World Cup opener in Antalya, finished sixth at the fourth stage of the circuit in Medellin and was runner-up in the field archery event at the World Games. She broke into the top 10 of the Sanlida World Archery Ranking in April and currently sits second ahead of her first career appearance at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final next week in Mexico.