Dr Jane Thornton appointed as new IOC Medical and Scientific Director
Dr Jane Thornton, an Olympian and a Canadian national, has been appointed as the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s new Medical and Scientific Director.
In her role, she will manage the Medical and Scientific Department’s strategic initiatives, and will foster active engagement on behalf of the IOC in the areas of medicine and science. Dr Thornton will take up her post on 1 September 2024. After a transition period, she will succeed Dr Richard Budgett, who will retire in December 2024. Dr Budgett has led the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Department since November 2012.
Dr Thornton represented Canada for over a decade in the sport of rowing. She was a world champion in 2006 and took part in the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
Dr Thornton will take up her new role after a career in sports medicine practice and research, most recently as Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, with cross appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the School of Kinesiology. Dr Thornton holds both a PhD from Western and an MD from the University of Toronto, and her contributions to the field of sports medicine include over 100 peer-reviewed publications. She will bring experience from prominent leadership roles including that of President of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine and Editor of the British Journal of Sport and Exercise Medicine. As well as participating as an athlete in the Games in 2008 she had medical/research roles at Athens 2004, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016. She has also worked with IFs including the IIHF and World Rowing to deliver medical coverage at World Championship events.
“I wish a warm welcome and every success to Dr Jane Thornton. Her specialisation in long-term athlete health, female athlete health, and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease will be valuable to further develop safeguarding and well-being initiatives for athletes, and to guide the IOC and the broader sports movement on health matters,” said IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper. “I would like to thank Dr Richard Budgett for the excellent work he has undertaken over the last 12 years. His guidance and work on the development of health-related initiatives in line with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5 have always been greatly appreciated.”
In her new role Dr Thornton will be based in Lausanne and report to IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell.