In her first official visit as UK Sport Chair, Dame Katherine Grainger went to Nottingham to meet with GB Short Track Speed Skating as the sport steps up its preparations for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
With the Winter Olympics now less than six months away, Dame Katherine - alongside English Institute of Sport (EIS) National Director Nigel Walker - met with athletes, coaches and support staff targeting medal success in South Korea, including triple World Champion Elise Christie.
It was the first in a long line of trips for Dame Katherine as she looks to visit every Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic sport following her appointment as UK Sport Chair in April 2017.
Dame Katherine said: “It was hugely enjoyable to meet with the athletes, coaches and support staff at the Nottingham Ice Centre and to see first-hand all of the great work that is going on with the sport.
“With the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics fast approaching, it is clear that Short Track is a sport with strong medal aspiration and I look forward to following their progress as they target real success in South Korea.”
GB Short Track Speed Skating Performance Director Stewart Laing said: “It was a real pleasure for us to host Dame Katherine on her first visit as UK Sport Chair.
“Over the year and a half, our sport has gone from strength to strength to the point where we are heading towards the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics with real confidence.
“The support of UK Sport and EIS and other stakeholders have been crucial in helping us get to the next level so it was important to show Dame Katherine some of the great things we have been doing.
“We look forward to continuing to work with UK Sport as we put the finishing touches on our preparations for the Games.”