Marcus Daniell looking to make a difference on IOC Athlete's Commission

New Zealand tennis player Marcus Daniell has long been a prominent figure on courts around the world, but as his career winds down, he recently took another step towards life after the sport by being voted onto the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission.

The journey to join the IOC Athletes’ Commission began with an unexpected call. “A few months ago, I got a call from Sarah Cowley Ross, who is the chair of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission,” Daniell recalled. 

“Sarah Walker, the BMX rider, her term on the IOC Athletes’ Commission was coming to an end in Paris, so New Zealand needed to find a candidate to put forward.”

Each country can nominate one candidate for the Commission and the New Zealand Athletes’ Commission went through a process of figuring out who to nominate. 

“They came up with a shortlist and called all of us to see if we’d be open to putting our hands up for it,” Daniell explained. After consulting with Walker, who spoke highly of her experience, Daniell decided to throw his hat in the ring. 

Despite narrowly missing out on playing doubles at the Olympics with Michael Venus, he was invited to Paris to campaign for the position. 

“Campaigning was incredibly hard and socially uncomfortable, but ultimately worth it,” he said.

Being elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission is a significant achievement. Members have a vote equal to any other vote, influencing critical decisions such as the election of the new IOC president. 

“The heart of what the Athletes’ Commission does is represent athletes in IOC decision-making, ensuring that the athlete’s voice is central to the Olympics’ operations and ethos,” Daniell explained.

Daniell’s prior experience on the ATP Player Council had been disappointing for him and he did check out whether there would be similar frustrations if he was to join this commission.

“I felt like I put a lot of time and energy into it and really didn’t get much done,” he said. 

However, he is optimistic about his new role. “Given that we have a vote and that the IOC respects and listens to the Athletes’ Commission, I believe this role will be different and promising.”

Reflecting on his time in Paris, Daniell described the experience as bittersweet. 

“It was very painful being so close and not being able to play, seeing all my colleagues there competing, that was really hard to deal with,” he said. 

“It was also incredibly hard to do the campaigning, it's probably the most socially uncomfortable thing I've ever forced myself to do, to go and talk to strangers and basically try and get them to do something for you. 

“So it was really difficult and I was very happy to go home at the end of it.

“But ultimately it was worth it because being elected and having a New Zealand voice on the Commission, I feel like I did my job for the team.”

Now this is sorted, Daniell is turning his attention to the US Open, which will be the final time he’ll play at a grand slam.

“To be completely honest, the preparation feels pretty bad for the US Open,” he said. 

“The one good thing is I'm playing the US Open with the guy I played with earlier this year (in Phoenix), Miguel Reyes-Varela, a Mexican guy. 

“At least we've had a bit of time on court this year so that's a good thing, but this year has been really hard on the tennis side, like just playing with different people every week, very sporadic in terms of tournaments. 

“The only time I really felt like I got a bit of rhythm going was during the grass court season and then the results didn't really reflect the way I was playing. 

“Missing out on the Olympics was a blow because that was the main performance goal I had for the year.

“But I am glad I came back out and have answered the 'what if’ question. 

“I know that I want to be done now, maybe if I hadn't done this year, then then I would have always been asking what if, but this year on the tennis front has been really hard.”

Daniell says he’ll stay in the States until the end of this year and might play a couple of Challengers with Finn Reynolds. But he will be back in New Zealand for January’s ASB Classic. when he’ll play the final tournament of his career.

“My last event is going to be the ASB classic, so I’ll try to stay in shape for that,” he said. 

“I don’t know who they'll put me with for the wildcard, but I’ll try to go out with a bang.”