Two-time Pentathlon world champion Elena Micheli finds her leadership voice at IOC-ASOIF workshop in Lausanne

Two-time Pentathlon world champion Elena Micheli of Italy has represented the sport at the 2026 Women's Leadership Workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland, joining emerging female leaders from across the Olympic Movement for three days of learning, discussion and collaboration.

The two-time Olympian participated in the workshop (October 3-5), organised jointly by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), with specialist support from EqualCareers.

Bringing together more than 40 women representing 30 Summer and Winter Olympic sports, the programme focused on developing the skills, confidence and networks needed to strengthen female representation in leadership and decision-making roles.

For Micheli, the experience offered an opportunity to contribute the perspective of an elite athlete while exploring the qualities that define effective leadership, from communication and crisis management to empathy, resilience and self-awareness.

The Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympian pentathlete said: “I'm really proud to have been part of the IOC x ASOIF x EqualCareers Women's Leadership Workshop 2026 in Lausanne. I'm truly grateful to UIPM for this great opportunity, for giving me the chance to share the voice of Modern Pentathlon and to bring the athletes' perspective to this important conversation.

“One of the most valuable lessons was understanding the power of authentic female leadership. Empathy, emotional intelligence and the ability to bring people together are important leadership strengths.

“I also learned how important it is to assess situations with transparency and confidence, anticipate potential crises and approach challenges calmly and with a solution-oriented mindset.”

The workshop encouraged participants to recognise their individual leadership qualities while developing practical skills to communicate effectively with different audiences, understand alternative perspectives and build confidence through knowledge and competence.

For Micheli, another important theme was finding her own leadership voice without compromising her personality or values.

She added: “We explored how to adapt our communication to the person in front of us, creating connection and understanding while remaining authentic to who we are.

“Leadership is a continuous journey of growth. It requires self-awareness, openness to feedback, resilience and the courage to keep challenging ourselves. Just as importantly, we need to create environments where women can support, empower and learn from one another.”

Micheli's participation continued UIPM's involvement in the initiative following the attendance of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Kate French of Great Britain, a member of the UIPM Women's Commission, at the 2025 workshop.

French (GBR) described her experience in Lausanne as invaluable, highlighting the opportunity to connect with women from different sports and backgrounds, reflect on her Olympic journey and sign the Olympians Wall at Olympic House.

With her elite-level Pentathlon pedigree, Micheli brought considerable international sporting experience to the latest gathering. Her participation also reflected the growing opportunities for athletes to contribute their knowledge and perspectives beyond the field of play.

As UIPM continues to support women's development and representation across the sport, the experience in Lausanne provided another example of how the qualities developed through elite competition can become a foundation for leadership long after an athlete's sporting career.