Dame Katherine Grainger has been confirmed as the new chair of UK Sport ©Getty Images

Rowing Olympic gold medallist Dame Katherine Grainger has been appointed to the chairperson role at UK Sport by the country’s Government.

The appointment was confirmed today by Sports Minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Katherine will hold the post for years.

The 41-year-old will start the job on July 1 and is taking over from the former Royal Yachting Association chief executive Rod Carr, who steps down tomorrow.

UK Sport board member Lis Astell will act as interim chairperson between Carr’s departure and Dame Katherine’s arrival.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be appointed as the next UK Sport Chair,” Dame Katherine said.

Dame Katherine Grainger won five Olympic rowing medals during her career, including double sculls gold at London 2012 ©Getty Images
Dame Katherine Grainger won five Olympic rowing medals during her career, including double sculls gold at London 2012 ©Getty Images

“I am also very honoured to be joining the team at UK Sport and building on the success and commitment to excellence that I have witnessed and enjoyed as an athlete.

“I'm also acutely aware of the many challenging issues currently within sport and I hope to play a role in addressing them.”

Along with the gold she won with Anna Watkins for Great Britain in the double sculls at the London 2012 Olympics, Dame Katherine also has four silver medals to her name and is the first female from the country to make the podium at five consecutive Games, starting at Sydney 2000.

In the 2017 New Year’s Honours List, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to sport and charity.