UK Sport chair Katherine Grainger vows to continue supporting success in British sport

Katherine Grainger says her passion for sport was the driving force behind her desire to take up the role of chair at UK Sport.

The 41-year-old Glaswegian is Britain's most decorated female Olympian, having claimed the fifth Olympic rowing medal of her career at Rio last summer at her fifth successive Games.

Grainger, who was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year's Honours List for her services to sport and charity, succeeded Rod Carr last month as chair of the country's elite sports funding body.

She told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ: "I have been on an incredible journey in British sport in my career and I want to continue that passion by supporting success in British sport.

"I want to, in some way, be able to influence sport and impact sport beyond my athletic career.

"At heart, I am completely passionate about sport, how it can be done and the inspiring effect that it can have."

Grainger is one of a generation of British female athletes that struggled for profile and funding during the early part of their careers.

But the barriers that once existed for female athletes have started to come down, says Grainger, who says the next generation of sportswomen see no reason why they cannot thrive.

She added: "Increasingly now you speak to girls and they don't see the obstacles in the same way. They don't think doors are shut to them and they don't feel that sports are off-limits for them.

"They sort of feel like anything is possible and that is exactly what you want. You want this whole generation of boys and girls together feeling like the world is their oyster."