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Dame Katherine Grainger is one of the best-known and most iconic figures in British sport.<\/strong><\/p>\n After silver medals at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, the rower finally claimed the prize she craved most with an emotional gold in front of the home fans at London 2012.<\/p>\n Despite taking time out from the sport while she considered retirement Grainger returned for Rio 2016 where she secured a stunning \u2013 and shock \u2013 silver at the age of 40, despite a challenging build-up.<\/p>\n That success saw her become the first woman in her nation\u2019s history to win an Olympic medal at five successive Games and she was rewarded by being made a Dame in the 2017 New Years\u2019 Honours list. <\/p>\n Following her official retirement, later that year the history-maker was appointed as the Chair of UK Sport.<\/p>\n She entered at a time of significant turmoil with national governing bodies hit with a series with welfare scandals, but Grainger has set about transforming the face of British sport.<\/p>\n To mark International Women\u2019s Day Grainger tells Women\u2019s Sports Alliance (WSA) about the \u201cpride\u201d she feels after witnessing significant changes within the women\u2019s sport movement and seeing more female athletes use their platform for positive social change.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s thrilling to know that if you\u2019re a young girl at school or a woman of any age, that there’s female athletes there who will inspire, enlighten and engage you,\u201d Grainger tells the WSA.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s something to be really proud of!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n