Dame Katherine Grainger, one of Team GB’s most accomplished athletes, has made history by becoming the first female chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) in its 119-year existence. Grainger, the only British woman to secure medals in five different Olympic Games, emerged victorious over Annamarie Phelps, the BOA’s vice-chair, in a vote by the organisation’s 46 members on Thursday. She will succeed Hugh Robertson, who has guided the BOA since 2012, in the early months of the new year.

This appointment marks another significant milestone in the illustrious career of the 49-year-old from Glasgow, which commenced at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Grainger’s Olympic journey culminated in one gold and four silver medals before she retired from competitive rowing in 2016. Following her retirement, she transitioned into sports administration, serving as chair at UK Sport. During her tenure, she revised the organisation’s contentious “No Compromise” strategy, which had resulted in the complete withdrawal of funding from smaller sports like wheelchair rugby and badminton post the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“Being elected chair of the BOA is a tremendous honour, as the Olympics have been integral to my life for nearly three decades,” Grainger remarked. She will officially join the BOA in the new year, after concluding her second and final term with UK Sport in early 2025. “As an athlete, I experienced firsthand the profound influence and impact that sport has on people’s lives. My time as chair of UK Sport has taught me the importance of collaboration within this dynamic ecosystem that supports Olympic sport in the UK. I am eager to begin this new chapter with the BOA.”

Grainger’s appointment was met with enthusiasm by Andy Anson, the BOA’s chief executive. He stated, “Katherine is a highly respected figure in high-performance sport, known in the British sporting community not only as a steadfast leader but also as one of our greatest Olympians. We are excited to collaborate with her in the lead-up to and during the Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

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