DECEMBER 23 - SARAH SPRINGMAN (pictured), one of the pioneers of the sport, has been appointed as the inaugural president and chair of the Board of directors of the recently-established British Triathlon Federation (BTF), who have high hopes of success in London 2012.

 

Springman, a vice president of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), will take up her position early in the New Year when the full Board of directors for the BTF has been appointed.

 

Springman represented Britain at the elite level of triathlon from 1984 to 1993, and competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

 

During her career she amassed 20 European Championship medals, including three individual and five team golds, before turning her focus to long distance racing, finishing fifth at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in 1985 and 1987.

Springman first became a Board member of the British Triathlon Association (BTA) between 1984 and 1985 before founding and co-chairing the ITU's women’s commission between 1990 and 1992.

 

In 1997 she was presented with the OBE for services to sport. She was a member of the GB Sports Council and UK Sport from 1993-2001.

“I am greatly honoured to be entrusted with the task of leading the Board of the newly constituted British Triathlon Federation to set up winning partnerships with our Home Nation members of England, Scotland and Wales," said Springman.

 

"It will be an extremely challenging but exciting task, and one that the new Board will relish."