OLYMPIAN Katherine Grainger has been named chairwoman of UK Sport.

The retired rower and celebrated gold medal winner, who is chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, was announced on Friday night as the new head of the Government body.

Dame Grainger said she was ‘absolutely thrilled’ and ‘honoured’ to have been chosen.

The 41-year-old became chancellor of the university in 2015, after judging at its Social Entrepreneur Awards.

The athlete also has an honourary degree from the university.