Namibia Athletes Commission

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WHO ARE WE?

An elected consultative body considering questions related to athletes, providing advice and making recommendations to the NNOC-CGA.

We are the link between Namibian athletes and the NNOC-CGA.

MISSION

To represent the view, rights and interests of athletes and make their voice heard within their National Federation and the NNOC-CGA. To this end the Namibia Athletes Commission maintains the views of athletes at the forefront of its actions; serves as a consultative body considering questions related to athletes; provides advice and makes recommendations to the NNOC-CGA and is the link between athletes and the NNOC-CGA.

VISION

To empower, educate, inspire and assist athletes to achieve their highest potential in sport and in life.

VALUES

To establish the values of excellence, integrity, respect, friendship, unity, diplomacy, sharing and inspiration among athletes, within sport in Namibian sport and the formal structures of its representatives, organisational and controlling bodies.

OBJECTIVES

To represent the rights and interests of athletes and provide advice and recommendations to the NNOC-CGA
To provide strong and effective leadership - taking initiative in resolving issues adversely affecting athletes
To engage actively with initiatives and projects that protect and support clean athletes on and off the field of play
To work with the executive board of the NNOC-CGA to adopt the Athletes Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, and incorporate it into the NNOC-CGA's policies and procedures
To develop and maintain communication channels which ensure effective liaison amongst athletes, their National Federation athletes representative and us

GOALS

To be knowledgeable about athletes and familiar with their needs
To have presence at all major sporting and sport related events in Namibia
To establish and maintain an athletes database containing relevant information and statistics of athletes and preserving the legacy of athletes
To achieve representation by athletes on the executive committees of all National Sports Bodies and National Umbrella Bodies stipulated in the Namibian Sports Act of 2003

Maike Betts (née Diekmann OLY)

(Chairperson)

AGE: 30 years old

SPORT: Rowing

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: Giving back to Namibian sport and supporting its athletes & leaving a legacy in rowing

MY GREATEST RESULTS: Qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: Yelena Isinbayeva’s historic 5m pole vault at Beijing 2008 (first female to clear 5m)

FUN FACT: I have a scuba diving license & started rowing only during my University studies

Romio Goliath

(Vice-Chairperson)

SPORT: Wrestling

AGE: 25 years old

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: Qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA

MY GREATEST RESULTS: 🥈 in the 2020 African Continental Championships

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: When Christiano Ronaldo won the footballer of after 4 years of Messi's dominance

FUN FACT: I can't go a day without feeling the burn of coke through my throat

(Para ex officio member)

SPORT: Para Athletics (T11)

AGE: 38

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: Compete at my final Paralympic Games in LA 2028

MY GREATEST RESULTS: 🥇 at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in the 200m

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: When Lahja Ishitile won her first Gold Paralympic medal in Paris last year

FUN FACT: I play blind soccer

Helalia Johannes OLY

SPORT: Athletics (Marathon)

AGE: 44

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: To support my fellow marathon teammates in their dream of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games, I am working alongside my longtime coach, Robert Kaxuxwena, as we join forces to guide and assist them.

MY GREATEST RESULTS: 🥇 - Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast (2018), 🥇- Nagoya Women's Marathon in Japan (2019), 🥉- World Championships in Doha (2019),🥉-Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (2022)

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: Watching Ruth Chepngetich set a new world record at the Chicago Marathon with an impressive time of 2:09:56, shattering the previous record by nearly two minutes.

FUN FACT: I play games with my kids in the house

Martin Freyer

SPORT: Cycling

AGE: 29

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: To help develop and grow the availability of sport specific health care for athletes in Namibia

MY GREATEST RESULTS: Maybe not the highest performing result, but one I am very proud of becoming Namibian National Road Champion in 2017

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: Biniam Girmay being the first African rider to win a jersey at the Tour de France in 2024

FUN FACT: My wife and I spent most of 2023 living and traveling on our bicycles, covering 15 countries and three continents

SPORT: Athletics (Track & Field)

AGE: 24

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: Competing at Global stages (World Championships and Olympics)

MY GREATEST RESULTS: Winning My First International race at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: Frank Fredericks winning Namibia’s first Olympic medal. That moment has shaped many lives and has motivated me to achieve my goals!

FUN FACT: If I'm not busy tearing up the track or competing, I'm probably creating content that no one will ever see, oh and I also speak German now!

SPORT: Volleyball

AGE: 33

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: To play professional Volleyball. To ensure that every athlete is represented at all Level of Sports body

MY GREATEST RESULTS: Participating at Zone VI Club Championship and Won several Matches

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: Winning CVA League Twice with NamPower Volleyball Club

FUN FACT: People say "I am too short to play Volleyball"

Phillip Seidler OLY

SPORT: Swimming (Open water)

AGE: 26

GOALS/ASPIRATIONS: To help develop the future of sports in Namibia

MY GREATEST RESULTS: Qualifying for the Olympics twice, in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. I’m the first Namibian swimmer in over 20 years to qualify for the Olympics, and I introduced open water swimming as a sport in Namibia

FAVORITE MOMENT IN SPORT HISTORY: When Michael Phelps won his 8th Olympic Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympics

FUN FACT: I can swim faster than a shark!