The 60-year-old was unanimously voted back into the role by the COC Session, made up of sports leaders, athletes and coaches, after standing unopposed.

It is the second term Smith, a lawyer and businesswoman based in Vancouver, will serve in the position and she is due to remain as President until 2021, meaning she will oversee preparations for Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020.

The former rower, who competed at four Olympic Games herself and won a silver medal in the women’s coxless pairs at Los Angeles in 1984, was first appointed as President in November 2015 after a period as interim leader.

She had replaced Marcel Aubut after he stepped down following allegations from several women of sexual comments and unwanted touching. 

Smith had been the vice-president since 2009 and has also since been elected as an International Olympic Committee member.

"I am honoured to be entrusted to lead our great sport movement and I thank everyone for their support," Smith said.

"The next four years are about being the best Olympic Committee we can be.

"This means being the best partner providing the support to our sport system for the benefit of our athletes and coaches in Canada and internationally."

The session also saw seven members elected to the COC Board of Directors.

Therese Brisson, a two-time Winter Olympic ice hockey medallist, Chris Clark, Kevin Gilmore and Peter Lawless were re-elected onto the Board.

Maureen Kempston-Darkes, Karen Rubin and Mark Tewksbury, a former swimmer who won the Olympic men’s 100 metre backstroke gold at Barcelona 1992, were elected for a first term.