Rio De Janeiro : Newly-elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nita Ambani today distributed the medals to women’s 400m freestyle podium finishers at the Rio Games here to become the first Indian woman to do the honours at an Olympic victory ceremony.
Ambani, who became the first Indian woman to join the IOC when she was elected to the prestigious body on August 4, gave away the gold medal to world record-holder American Kathleen Ledecky, silver to Jazz Carlin of Great Britain and bronze to another American Leah Smith.
Ledecky won the event in a world record timing of 3 minutes 56.46 seconds, while Carlin and Smith came second and third in 4:01.23 and 4:01.92 respectively.
The 52-year-old Nita is the only current active individual member of the IOC from India and she will serve at the high-profile world body until she attains the age of 70.
Former Indian Olympic Association Secretary General, Randhir Singh, who served as IOC member from India from 2001-2014, is currently an honorary member of the global body which governs Olympic sports in the world.
PTI