A powerful new voice is joining the top ranks of international sport. Leila Marques Mota, a celebrated former Paralympic swimmer from Portugal, has made history. She was elected as the First Vice-President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This big moment happened on Saturday during elections held in Seoul, South Korea. Her selection signals a fresh perspective at the core of the global Paralympic movement.
The elections saw Andrew Parsons, from Brazil, secure a third term as President. He received a strong majority of 109 out of 177 valid votes. His challenger, Dong Hyun Bae of South Korea, gathered 68 votes. With Parsons leading again, the addition of Marques Mota to his team is a clear move towards dynamic leadership.
Marques Mota’s new role is significant. She will serve as First Vice-President, a position also sought by Chelsey Gotell of Canada and Ming-Chu Um of China. John Petersson of Denmark was elected as the Second Vice-President. Together, this new leadership group faces important tasks.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Marques Mota shared her outlook. She stated her election “is not just personal.” Instead, it “represents a collective commitment to advance the Paralympic movement with courage, innovation, and integrity.” She sees the IPC as central to sports. It promotes top-level competition, but also works for inclusion and equal chances. This focus helps create social change through sport.
Marques Mota understands the tough work ahead. She spoke about key challenges. These include ensuring countries have fair resources. Also, increasing the global presence of Paralympic sport is vital. Strengthening the movement’s honesty and stability is another goal. Most importantly, she wants every athlete to have a fair chance. They need to show their full potential without barriers.
Her journey to this leadership role is impressive. Marques Mota, who is 44 years old and a doctor, competed in four Paralympic Games as a swimmer. She represented Portugal in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, and Beijing in 2008. Her time as an athlete gives her a unique insight into the needs of competitors.
Beyond the pool, Marques Mota has a long history in sports administration. She is the Vice-President of the Portuguese Paralympic Committee (CPP). Before the CPP existed, she led the Portuguese Federation of Sports for the Disabled (FPDD). She also served as the Chef de Mission for the Portuguese team at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Her election “affirms Portugal’s ability to place leaders in international bodies.” This shows the quality and respected work done within the country’s sports programs.