(Reuters) - Former Olympic champion rower and current chair of UK Sport Katherine Grainger was elected chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) on Thursday and will become the first woman to assume the post.
Grainger, the only British woman to have won a medal at five successive Olympic Games, was elected by members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), and will replace Hugh Robertson who has held the position since succeeding Sebastian Coe in 2016.
"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," Grainger said in a statement.
"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."
Grainger will take over the role early next year when her second term at UK Sport comes to an end.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Toby Davis)
