Clare Cunningham selected for UK Sport Leadership Programme

International Leadership Programme participants announced

Clare Cunningham selected for flagship UK Sport programme

Great Britain’s recently retired Paratriathlete, Clare Cunningham, has been announced as one of just 15 individuals who will form part of the 2017-2019 edition, International Leadership Programme (ILP) from UK Sport.

The programme, first established in 2006, is UK Sport’s flagship international leadership development initiative for high calibre British sports administrators and retired athletes who are seeking to engage effectively and make an impact in international sport. It forms part of UK Sport’s strategy of ensuring the UK has a strong, respected and supportive voice in international sport, by developing the knowledge, expertise and skills of representatives from National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in the UK and other national partners to operate and succeed in international sports organisations.

Clare has a long and distinguished sporting history. At the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games she won a Gold and four Silver medals, before retiring from swimming after the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Returning to competitive Elite sport through triathlon, Clare was the European and World Champion in 2009, before adding more podium finishes in a career that culminated in selection for the debut of Paratriathlon at the Rio 2016 Games. In total, Clare secured 21 podium finishes from her 24 starts in ITU/ETU competition to be one of the most consistent and longest serving members of the British team.

No longer a part of the Great Britain Paratriathlon squad, Clare is still competing in triathlon events – recently completing the Outlaw Half Nottingham, her debut over the half-iron distance.

I asked Clare what this selection meant to here:

“Although retired from competing in Elite paratriathlon, I am still very keen to continue working to develop the sport internationally and in the UK towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

“Having been a Paratriathlon representative on the ITU Athletes’ Committee since 2012 and a current member of the BTF Board, the ILP is a fantastic opportunity to develop my skills and network in order to be more effective in the world of sport administration. It was very competitive to be selected for the programme and so I am thrilled to have this opportunity and to learn alongside a fantastic group of people.”