ATHLETES

Caroline is a long-time Ultimate athlete with over 16 years of playing and coaching experience. Based in Karlsruhe, Germany, she combines her passion for disc sports with a strong background in sport development and youth engagement. With a love for community, fairness, and the unique spirit of the game, she brings both heart and expertise to the Athlete Commission. Caroline is especially committed to athlete rights, safe sport, and strengthening the disc sports community.

Maria is a Colombian/French disc sports athlete with over 22 years of Ultimate experience and a growing focus on Disc Golf. Based in western France, she works as a forest engineer on climate and conservation issues. From Colombia to the Netherlands to France, Maria has played at the highest levels across multiple continents. A WFDF Athlete Commission member since 2023, she is committed to strengthening communication between athletes and governing bodies to ensure their voices are heard and represented effectively.

Claire is an Ultimate athlete from the United States with over 15 years of experience at the highest levels of the sport. A multiple-time World Games and World Championship gold medalist, she currently competes with Denver Molly Brown and serves as a leader and mentor in the U.S. Ultimate community. Off the field, Claire works in education and data analysis, and has coached university and youth programs for over a decade. Known for her commitment to equity and athlete development, she joined the WFDF Athlete Commission to strengthen representation, support player growth, and help build a more inclusive future for disc sports worldwide.

Sevval is a 26-year-old Ultimate player based in Istanbul with a strong belief in the power of sport for social impact. She works in youth and entrepreneurship at a Turkish NGO and is currently writing her thesis on education and entrepreneurship at KU Leuven. Sevval is actively involved in advocating for official recognition of Ultimate in Turkey. Through the Athlete Commission, she hopes to break down barriers for women and underrepresented groups and help disc sports gain the visibility and support they deserve.

Shane is a long-time disc athlete from the U.S., now based in Singapore, with a frisbee journey that began in 1980. He’s played Ultimate since college and turned pro in disc golf in 2004. Outside the field, Shan leads datacenter programs across APAC for Microsoft and is a father of three in a sport-loving family. As a member of the Athlete Commission, he’s focused on growing disc sports in Southeast Asia, advancing equity in federations, and expanding opportunities for women and youth.

Maria Fernanda — known as Mafe to friends and teammates — has played Ultimate for 17 years and competed in numerous WFDF events. Originally from Barranquilla and now living in Bogotá, she brings her background in sports and event management into everything she does. As General Director of a sports event company, she channels her passion for teamwork, competition, and community-building. Through the Athlete Commission, she hopes to support athletes, give back to the sport, and help Ultimate grow on a global scale.

Allan plays Ultimate with Blackfish in Kisumu, Kenya, on the shores of Lake Victoria. With a background in microbiology and a career as a research scientist, he brings both analytical thinking and deep community roots to the field. He values Ultimate for its spirit, fairness, and the strong bonds it builds. As part of the Athlete Commission, Allanl aims to amplify voices from underrepresented regions, improve tournament accessibility, and advocate for truly global representation in disc sports.

‘Mafe’ is a passionate disc sports athlete and coach from Colombia with 10 years of Ultimate experience and growing dedication to Disc Golf, Freestyle, and Guts. As a teacher with a master’s in education and soon a PhD student, she combines sport and social impact—coaching youth, promoting inclusion, and volunteering with migrant communities. Through the Athlete Commission, she wants to strengthen support for emerging disciplines and ensure all players have a voice, especially in underrepresented regions.

Aline - also known as “Rasta” - is a long-time Ultimate player from France, competing with YAKA and regularly representing the French national team. She’s been playing since age 11 and is passionate about the evolving nature of the sport—its intensity, inclusivity, and strong international community. Off the field, Aline works as a social worker supporting young migrants in Paris. In the Athlete Commission, she advocates for equity and accessibility, and believes all athletes should feel seen, heard, and represented.

Originally from Canada and now based in Europe, Mark started out in Ultimate before switching his focus to disc golf. With experience in both disciplines, he brings a broad perspective to the disc sports community. He’s passionate about improving the athlete experience and joined the Athlete Commission to help shape events that better serve players and elevate the sport.

Ralf fell in love with disc golf in 2014, after many years in football as a player and coach. He now runs monthly events with hundreds of players and co-directs the European Disc Golf Festival. As a father of three and active community builder, he’s passionate about growing the sport and improving the athlete experience. Through the Athlete Commission, he wants to help disc golf gain more visibility—both in Estonia and beyond.

Irene is a 28-year-old Ultimate player from Bologna, Italy, and a physiotherapist by profession. She’s been playing since middle school and now splits her seasons between Italy and San Francisco, where she plays with SF Fury. Irene loves the global frisbee community, the joy of competition, and the friendships built through sport. She joined the Athlete Commission to give back to the sport that shaped her and to help make disc sports more accessible—especially for women and new players worldwide.

Josh has been playing disc sports since childhood, introduced first to disc golf and then to Guts by his father. Based in Utah, he now focuses on Guts competitively and loves the intensity and deep friendships the sport fosters. When he’s not playing or watching discs fly through the air, he enjoys mountain backpacking and perfecting barbecue recipes. As part of the Athlete Commission, Josh hopes to connect disc communities worldwide and support a culture of belonging across all disciplines.