Pau Gasol, a celebrated former Spanish basketball player with 216 national team selections and over 20,000 NBA points, has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission. The 45-year-old Catalan, who previously joined the IOC in 2021, will serve in this prestigious role at least until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This appointment marks a significant and rapid ascent in sports politics for Gasol, who also sits on the IOC's 2028 Games coordination commission and ethics commission. He succeeds Emma Terho, who had held the position since 2021. Gasol's illustrious career includes five Olympic appearances, two silver medals (2008, 2012), and one bronze (2016), alongside a 2006 World Championship and three European titles.