Team England Appoints Sarah Winckless
Team England has appointed former rowing star Sarah Winckless MBE as its chef de mission for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.
The 42-year-old, who twice won gold at the World Rowing Championships and claimed a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, will lead Team England to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was the most successful ever for Team England, with a total of 174 medals lifting England to the top of the medal table. Winckless has previously held the position of UK chef de mission for the Youth Olympic Games and served as the inaugural Chairman of the BOA’s Athletes Commission. She was the first woman to be appointed as a boat race umpire.
In 2015, she was awarded an MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to sport and young people.
Accountable to CEO Paul Blanchard, Winckless will work alongside the existing Commonwealth Games England (CGE) team and additional games delivery staff to provide leadership and direction to Team England before, during and post the 2018 Games. The chef de mission has overall accountability for all team members during the Games.
Sarah Winckless, chef de mission for CGE, said: “I am delighted to accept this exciting opportunity and lead England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Having been an international athlete, I understand what is needed to allow athletes to perform at their best at major events and I am looking forward to working with CGE to ensure that we are as best prepared as we possibly can be.
“Team England is a fantastic representation of modern England. We are proud to have a team that is diverse, inclusive and demonstrative of England in 2016. With the new para-programme at The Gold Coast Games including an increase of 45% more athletes and 73% more medals compared to the record-breaking para-sport competition at Glasgow 2014, we will have the chance to be even more inclusive of England’s hugely talented and inspirational para-athletes.
Paul Blanchard, chief executive of Commonwealth Games England added: “We are very pleased to announce Sarah Winckless as our Chef de Mission for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Topping the kind of performance Team England delivered in Glasgow is a tough challenge but with Sarah’s leadership, CGE is confident we will be able to try and build on this success and continue to grow as a leading English sporting organisation.”
