British paracanoeist Tim Lodge has been elected Chair of the new International Canoe Federation Athlete Committee.

Lodge was elected by his fellow committee members to take on the role, taking over from Danish sprint and marathon paddler Henriette Engel Hansen, who was in the position for two years.

Lodge’s first task will be to attend the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, this weekend.

45-year-old Lodge has been canoeing since 1981, and has competed across several ICF disciplines, including canoe marathon, sprint, dragon boat, whitewater, surk ski and paracanoe.

He has previously been the athlete representative with British Canoeing and a member of the British Athletes Committee.

“My knowledge of all aspects of paddle sports is backed up by my love and passion of the sport in general and not just one discipline,” Lodge said.

“I really feel that the knowledge I have of all areas of the sport, not just the Olympic disciplines can benefit the committee and give an impartial view of our sport.”

Lodge said he wanted to use the position of Chair to help athletes get the most out of canoeing.

“Mentoring and rehabilitating people through sport is one of my passions,” he said.

“The gift of living a healthy life being in involved in canoeing as a sport, not just at the high performance Olympic level, is something that everyone can benefit from.

“I have the skill of getting the best out of people for their general well-being in the high-performance environment and in their day to day lives, which I feel would be invaluable in the role of chair.”

The ICF athletes committee is

Jessica Fox (AUS) - Slalom

Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK) - Slalom

Krisztina Fazekas (HUN) - Sprint

Yurii Postrigai (RUS) - Sprint

Tim Lodge (GBR) - Paracanoe

Amanda Reynolds (AUS) - Paracanoe

Claire O’Hara (GBR) Freestyle

Hayley Jo Nixon (RSA) - Marathon