Ferris gets BOA award

Ferris, 71, sprung to sporting fame winning a bronze medal in springboard diving at the 1960 Rome Olympics (pictured in Rome with team-mates Keith Collin and Brian Phelps) and went on become renowned for her research and studies towards achieving gender equality in sport.

She is one of only two remaining original members of the International Olympic Committee’s Women in Sport commission, which was founded in 1995, and she played a key role in launching the World Olympians Association, which recognises athletes as part of the Olympic family, before going on to found the British Olympians Club.

Her dedication to promoting sporting fair play and her vision towards developing anti-doping methods were also celebrated during the presentation made by HRH, The Princess Royal, and the honour of being the first female to receive the award left her beaming with pride. 

“I am very proud to be honoured and hugely surprised to be the first person to be given this award,” said Ferris.
“There were so many people who could have been given this award, and because of my work in women in sport over the many years, to know the first award has gone to a woman is fantastic.

“Women are almost at parity at the Olympic Games in terms of the number of competitors, only just under half, but we’ve really made huge strides over the last 15 years in getting female athletes competing on an equal level at the Games.

“Setting up the World Olympians Association was important because it allowed Olympians to go into the community and do all the wonderful activates athletes can do which is beneficial.
“Other people have taken over the reigns now but you could say that I had the vision and developed it.

“I hope winning this reward will encourage girls in sport and show that women have an important role to play.

“It is hard work, you need a vision and a passion but if you have those things you can really do great things and make a difference.”

BOA chairman Lord Colin Moynihan hosted the presentation on Wednesday and praised Ferris’ commitment and her importance to the global development of Olympic sport.   

“Dr Liz Ferris has made a remarkable contribution to the British Olympic Family and indeed to the wider Olympic Movement,” said Lord Moynihan.

“Upon retirement from competitive sport Liz focused her attention on the needs of Olympians and was key in the creation of the World Olympians Association.
“She is well-known for her studies on women in sport and as a medical doctor; she is prolific in her sports medicine articles and views on anti-doping.
“Liz has dedicated her life to sport on and off the field of play.”