Sarah has been an active triathlete for over 30 years, having taken part in the first British Triathlon Association sponsored event at Kirton’s Farm, Reading in 1983.

She represented Great Britain at elite level and amassed 21 elite ETU European Championship medals in triathlon (all distances) and duathlon, as well as finishing fifth at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in 1985 and 1987 and the Nice International Triathlon, also in 1985.

On the international stage, Sarah was re-elected as 1st Vice-President of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) in 2012, having served since 2008 and having previously been the sole Vice President in 1992 when she co-Chaired the Women’s Commission. Sarah was responsible for much of the work in the ITU’s bid to place paratriathlon on the sport programme of the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 and for the preparation of and lobbying for the successful bid to place the Triathlon Mixed Relay on the programme in the Commonwealth Games. 

Having previously served as a Board member of the British Triathlon Association, she was appointed Chair of the newly formed British Triathlon Federation Board in 2007.  As President of the British Triathlon Federation until 2012, Sarah headed a very successful period of growth and ultimately Olympic success. 

Sarah was made a Commander of the British Empire for services to sport in 2012 and was appointed to the Board of UK Sport for the second time in 2013.