Olympic champion Jefferson Pérez has become the first Olympic gold medalist to lead the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee, taking office as part of an institutional restructuring agreed upon with the International Olympic Committee to restore the body’s governance. Jefferson Pérez assumes the presidency of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee during a ceremony in Guayaquil as the organization begins an institutional restructuring. Photo: EFEFormer Olympic race walking champion becomes the first Olympic gold medalist to lead the COE amid an institutional restructuring. Olympic champion Jefferson Pérez has taken over as president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE), becoming the first Olympic gold medalist to lead the organization as it seeks to recover from an institutional crisis and restore its governance. His appointment marks a new chapter for the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee as it works to strengthen support for athletes ahead of future Olympic Games.