Five Olympians have been selected as finalists for the IOC Climate Action Awards 2025. Here, we meet each athlete and hear their story.
Every year, the IOC Climate Action Awards shine a spotlight on initiatives that make a real difference to the climate impact of sport.
The athlete category for 2025 is made up of five Olympians, with each of them going above and beyond to tackle this important worldwide issue.
Rhydian Cowley
Rhydian, who won bronze for Australia in the marathon race walk mixed relay at Paris 2024, became involved in climate action after a personal experience at home.
“Bushfires back in 2019 and 2020 forced the relocation of a training camp and covered my home city in thick smoke for a month.
“It really hit me hard and showed that I couldn’t wait for others to fix the problem.”
Now, Rhydian helps national sports organisations, including Athletics Australia, develop climate action plans.
“Athletes get an incredible platform to communicate with people across all demographics, so we have an opportunity to make climate action much more tangible around the world.
“A safe, sustainable future for sport won’t happen without athletes being a part of creating it.”
Hugo Inglis
A four-time Olympian in hockey for New Zealand, Hugo co-founded High Impact Athletes with IOC Athletes’ Commission member Marcus Daniell, connecting athletes with the most impactful charities in climate change and other areas.
“Growing up in New Zealand meant spending most of my time outside, and later I played in brutally hot conditions in countries that are already feeling climate impacts. Climate change stopped being an abstract issue and started to be something I wanted to play my part in.
“Athletes sit in a powerful place: kids listen to us, brands invest in us and sport cuts across borders and politics.
“It’s important for all of us to be part of creating a better future – not just on climate, but on mental health, inequality and conflict as well.”
Oliver Scholfield
Alongside representing Canada in hockey at Tokyo 2020, Oliver co-founded Racing to Zero, a consultancy that helps sports organisations understand and reduce their carbon impact.
“I've been interested in environmental sustainability and conservation since I was young, but it wasn't until 2019, when I found a group of fellow Canadian Olympians who were also interested in this field, that we started to take meaningful action.
“This award comes at a time when more and more people are experiencing the impacts of climate change.
“In sport, we're already seeing changes to training schedules and competition formats to accommodate worsening conditions, so we need to step up to ensure future generations can continue to play like we do now.”
Gabrielle Smith
Gabrielle rowed for Canada at Tokyo 2020 while balancing her career in science and her climate project, “Rising Tides”, which aims to improve water quality and clean waterways in Canada.
“My career as a scientist has given me a deep appreciation for how interconnected our global water systems are.
“At the same time, I’ve trained on lakes, rivers and coastlines around the world, and those hours spent on the water have shaped my perspective just as much as my time in the field.
“Water pollution was something I could see every day at practice. Those experiences opened my eyes to sustainability in sport and pushed me to protect the waterways that make rowing possible.”
Kevin Wekesa
Kevin played rugby sevens for Kenya at Paris 2024 and is now helping to promote sustainability back home through “Play Green”.
The initiative provides aluminium bottles to national teams – saving the use of nearly 1,000 plastic bottles per week – and provides nature restoration projects, mentorship and workshops in schools.
“I believe athletes have a unique responsibility in shaping a more sustainable future. When athletes take climate action seriously, it sends a powerful message: that protecting the environment is something every individual can contribute to.
“Sport teaches us teamwork and discipline, and these values are exactly what the world needs in the fight against climate change. If athletes step forward, we can inspire millions. And that’s how change truly begins.”
