Włoszczowska's election means she becomes a member of the IOC, and a second Pole, after the late Irena Szewińska, to take the prestigious role at the international Olympic body.
Włoszczowska is one of four new members of the IOC's Athletes' Commission, alongside Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol, Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini and Japanese foil fencer Yuki Ota.
All four were elected by athletes taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
'Huge success for Polish sport'
Włoszczowska thanked those who had voted for her, and the Polish Olympic Committee, for putting their trust in her.
"Sport, and especially the Olympic Family, have given me many good things in life," she said. "And now hopefully I will repay them by working for the benefit of other athletes in the Commission."
"I didn't expect to be elected at all," Włoszczowska also said, adding that her membership of the Athletes' Commission represented "a huge success for Polish sport."
'More than qualified' to represent and support athletes
Włoszczowska's candidacy was put forward last year by the Polish Olympic Committee, after a recommendation from the commission itself.
Andrzej Kraśnicki, chairman of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl), said the body was "proud of Maja's success" and added that she was "more than qualified" to represent and support athletes.
"Not only is she a wonderful sportswoman, but also an expert in many fields," Kraśnicki said.
Formally, Włoszczowska will become a member of the Athletes' Commission on August 8, the final day of the Tokyo Games.
Her term will run until the conclusion of the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Focus on new duties
The election took place between July 13 and August 3, with as many as 6,825 Tokyo 2020 athletes, or 61 percent of those eligible to vote, casting their ballots, the PAP news agency reported.
Włoszczowska received 1,674 votes, coming second only behind Gasol (1,888) among 30 candidates from 30 countries, according to the Polish state news agency.
The 37-year-old cross-country cyclist finished 20th in the Olympic mountain-bike event in Tokyo, and has called an end to her sporting career, as she focuses on new duties.
Maja Włoszczowska competes at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27, 2021. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Włoszczowska won a world championship in cross-country mountain biking in 2010.
She won the silver in the women’s mountain bike race at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She also took the silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP