Yuko Arimori, winner of the silver medal in women's marathon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and bronze in Atlanta four years later, was named a council member of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) on Wednesday, the world governing body for athletics.
Arimori, a first-time candidate, collected 121 of the 161 valid ballots for the most among the 10-seat women committee and will take up her post which runs for four years until 2007, when the athletics World Championships will be held in Osaka.
"I'm glad, but I can't get too thrilled just yet. I want to travel around and check out a lot of events, and hear especially what women athletes in Asia have to say," said the 36-year-old Arimori, who is also the United Nations goodwill ambassador.
Meanwhile, Lamine Diack of Senegal was re-elected president and Taizo Watanabe, vice chairman of the Japan Association of Athletics Federation, was named among the 13 individual members of the council.
Two-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion Sebastian Coe of Britain was also voted onto the body's ruling council.