Reigning Rio Paralympic Champion Elected to Alliance Board

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Anne Usher MBE a Rio gold medal winning Paralympian has been elected to the board of the Sport and Recreation Alliance. 

Voted in by the Alliance’s membership, Anne won gold with Great Britain’s paracanoeing team at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

A physiotherapist by profession, prior to her career in paracanoe, Anne was an enthusiastic amateur mountain biker who also has a long history of volunteering in sport.

Andrew Moss, Chair of the Alliance said, “Anne’s skills and personal experience give her a unique insight into the challenges that both organisations and individuals have in promoting or engaging in sport and recreation.

“We are so pleased to have Anne joining us. It is an exciting time for the Alliance with the recent launch of our new five year strategy, and as an athlete, at both grassroots and high performance levels, helping others to succeed in sport, we believe Anne will be a huge asset in helping us achieve our vision of an active nation through sport and recreation.”

Anne is looking forward to representing the Alliance’s members and encouraging all sections of society to get active and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

“I’m looking forward to joining the board of the Alliance and helping to get the nation active by bringing new ideas and a fresh way of thinking. I have gained most of my experience by rolling up my sleeves  and participating and volunteering in sport. I have over 30 years of hands-on experience in the sector through being a physio, working as a volunteer, and competing as an elite athlete. I believe this helps me have huge amounts of empathy which I can bring to board discussions.

“Being active benefits people, communities and the economy on so many different levels. Therefore, as a sector, we must make sure that organisations across sport and recreation have the support they need to be successful.”

Anne will officially begin her three-year term on the board at the conclusion of the Alliance’s AGM on 11 July.