Dame Katherine Grainger has been elected as the new Chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA), marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this position since the BOA’s establishment in 1905. The decision was made by the 46 members of the National Olympic Committee, who voted for Grainger to succeed Sir Hugh Robertson.
Grainger, a highly respected figure in sports, is celebrated as the only British woman to have won medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. Following her illustrious rowing career, she served as Chair of UK Sport, where she implemented strategic initiatives to shape the future of Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK. She will begin her four-year term with the BOA after completing her tenure with UK Sport in early 2025.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Grainger stated: “It is a huge honour to be elected Chair of the BOA as the Olympics has been central to my life for nearly 30 years. As an athlete, I experienced firsthand the incredible influence and impact sport has on people’s lives. During my time as Chair of UK Sport, I learned the power of collaboration within this impressive ecosystem that enables Olympic sport to flourish in the UK, and I look forward to embarking on this next chapter with the BOA.”
BOA CEO Andy Anson praised Grainger’s appointment: “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.”
Outgoing Chair Sir Hugh Robertson reflected on his tenure: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to lead The British Olympic Association and Team GB for nine years since I started standing in for Lord Coe in 2015. My thanks go to the Board, executive and, of course, our athletes who have outperformed expectations at successive Games.”
The BOA operates independently without annual government or lottery funding. A major focus for Grainger will be supporting efforts to secure commercial income necessary to provide athletes with resources and support for upcoming events like Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028.
Under Robertson’s leadership, Team GB achieved over 200 medals at recent Summer and Winter Olympic Games, establishing a world-leading performance environment supported by commercial partners and donors. Grainger’s appointment signals a continued commitment to excellence and innovation in British Olympic sports.
