OLYMPIC silver medal winning modern pentathlete Heather Fell from Merrivale is one of six Olympians elected by their peers to serve on the British Olympic Association's Athletes' Commission.

Heather, who won silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, will serve a four-year term on the commission.

The BOA announced on Monday that she was elected, alongside rowing's James Cracknell and Katherine Grainger, track and field athlete Christian Malcolm, diving's Leon Taylor and hockey player Kate Walsh.

There were 21 candidates contesting the six places on the commission – candidates must have competed at an Olympic or Olympic Winter Games since Sydney 2000.

Heather, who is currently ranked tenth in the world and took silver at last year's World Cup Final, said: 'I'm really excited to be on the commission.

'It's an honour to be elected, but it's also a real responsibility and I hope I can represent people the way they would like me to.'

Tavistock's Kate Allenby, a bronze medal winning pentathlete at Sydney 2000, was elected to the commission two years ago and steps down.

The commission, which was formed in July 2010, is an advisory group that represents the perspective and expertise of athletes and provides input to the many initiatives and programmes offered by the BOA.