The Foundation serves as the charitable arm of the British Olympic Association, and aims to "create learning opportunities for young people through sport, encouraging personal development, fair play and personal excellence".

Brownlee replaces Richard Leman, a former hockey player who helped Britain to gold at the Seoul 1988 Olympics and bronze at Los Angeles 1984, and is set to serve a four-year term on the Board.

The men's individual triathlon gold medallist at London 2012 and Rio 2016 is a member of the International Olympic Committee's and European Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commissions.

He has been tasked with bringing an athlete perspective to the Foundation.

With brother Jonny Brownlee, who won individual bronze and silver at London 2012 and Rio 2016 respectively before helping Britain to win the mixed team relay at Tokyo 2020 in triathlon, he founded the Brownlee Foundation in 2014 to inspire children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport.

The BOF chair David Ross welcomed Brownlee onto the Board.

"As a double Olympic gold medallist, he brings with him a demonstrable passion for the Olympic Movement and first-hand experience of the inspirational power of the Games," Ross said.

"The Foundation will benefit enormously from his insight of high-performance sport, as well as grassroots participation programmes through his charitable endeavours."

Brownlee outlined his hopes in his position with the BOF.

"It is an honour to be appointed a trustee of the British Olympic Foundation," he said.

"The inspirational effect of the Olympic Movement and the values embodied by Olympism changed my life.

"The BOF has the privileged and important role of promoting these values to the young people throughout the United Kingdom.

"I’m very excited to work with BOF to fulfil these aims, carry on the work I’ve already been doing with the Brownlee Foundation and provide more opportunities for young people to be active."