Katherine Grainger’s contribution to sport recognised by The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award

Thursday, 17 December 2015 – Today, at the Sport Journalists’ Association’s British Sports Awards 2015, Katherine Grainger CBE was awarded The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award in recognition of her major contribution to sport and for inspiring others.

Katherine is Great Britain’s most successful Olympic female rower after becoming Olympic Champion in 2012 in the double scull adding gold to three Olympic silver medals she won between 2000 and 2008.

Katherine took a two-year break after London 2012 to explore avenues outside rowing before returning to the sport in September 2014. Katherine raced at the World Championships this year with Vicky Thornley and the duo qualified the boat for Rio 2016. Places in that boat will be decided through a series of trials across the pre-Olympic season.

Commenting on her award, Katherine said: “To win this award is particularly special to me as it is the National Lottery Award which started in 1997, the same year my international career began so I feel the lottery has been with me every step of the way. And for it to be the Spirit of Sport award which looks beyond sporting achievement makes it a very special honour as I have been so inspired by sport and it’s a privilege to be able to pass that on.”

Previous winners of this prestigious award include, Jonny Wilkinson CBE, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Ben Ainslie.

Annamarie Phelps, British Rowing’s Chairman, said: “I’m delighted that Katherine’s hard work and dedication has been recognised by The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award. As one of Great Britain’s most successful Olympic sports, rowing has a clear role to play in inspiring the next generation of athletes and participants, both within our sport and across other. Rio 2016, in less than 8 months’ time, provides us with another great opportunity to showcase the inclusivity and accessibility of rowing and inspire more people to get involved with our sport.”

Sir David Tanner, Performance Director of the GB Rowing Team, who has been at the helm throughout Grainger’s career described the award as “a wonderful accolade”.

The Sport Journalists’ Association British Sports Awards are the longest-running sports awards in Britain, a red-carpet event introduced in 1949, held this year at the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London.

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