Dame Katherine Grainger becomes British Olympic Association's first female chair

Marlow’s Dame Katherine Grainger is to become the first female chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) in its 119-year history.

Announcing the move on social media, Dame Katherine said it would be a ‘huge honour’ to head up Team GB’s challenge for medals at future Olympics.

She becomes the first female chair in the organisation’s history and will move into the role in early 2025 after completing her term in the same position for UK Sport.

“It’s a huge honour,” she said.

“The Olympics has been central to my life for nearly 30 years. As an athlete I felt first hand the incredible influence the impact sport has on people’s lives.

“During my time as Chair of UK Sport, I have learned the power of collaboration as part of this impressive eco system that enables Olympic sport to flourish in the UK, and so I look forward to embarking on this next chapter with the BOA.”

Dame Katherine is the only British woman to have won medals in five successive Olympic Games. However, it was at London 2012 - alongside Anna Watkins in the double sculls – that she was finally crowned an Olympic champion. She also won silver medals in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and Rio.

She will take over as chair from Hugh Robertson, after 46 members of the National Olympic Committee voted to elect her.

A statement from Team GB described Dame Katherine as a "highly respected figure in sport".

After retiring from her 20-year rowing career, she was appointed chair of UK Sport.

Andy Anson, the CEO of the BOA, said: “Katherine is an esteemed figure in high-performance sport, recognised in the British sporting community as a steadfast leader as well as one of our greatest ever Olympians.

"We are looking forward to working with her in the build-up to and during Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028."