Katherine Grainger, a former Olympic rower and chair of UK Sport and currently the chair of the British Olympic Association(BOA), was elected as chair of the British Olympic Association on Thursday. She will be the first woman in the position.

Grainger is the only British woman who has won a medal in five consecutive Olympic Games. She was elected by the members of the National Olympic Committee.

"It's a great honour to be chosen as Chair of the BOA, since the Olympics have been central to my existence for almost 30 years," said Grainger in a press release.

"I look forward to this new chapter with the BOA. I learned how important collaboration is as part of the impressive eco-system that allows Olympic sport in the UK to flourish."

Grainger's second term as UK Sport's CEO will end in early 2019.

(source: Reuters)