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#LGBTInnovators - Sports Presenter Clare Balding

21st February 2016

#LGBTInnovators - Sports Presenter Clare Balding

Clare Balding OBE is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author. 

She currently presents for BBC Sport, Channel 4, BT Sport and the religious/spiritual programme Good Morning Sunday on BBC Radio 2.

An amateur Jockey in her younger years, Clare was a central figure in horse race broadcasting, and since hosting the 2012 Olympics has become a fixture in sports and mainstream broadcasting world. She also won an achievement award from the UK chapter of the Women in Film and Television in 2012 for her coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics. Clare was also presented the BAFTA Special Award in 2013 for her work on the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

She won the Royal Television Society’s “Sports Presenter of the Year” in 2003 and “Presenter” in 2012. Also in 2003, she won the “Racing Journalist of the Year Award” and has followed up with the award for “Racing Broadcaster of the Year”.

Balding was awarded the 2012 Sports Journalists’ Association’s annual British Sports Journalism Award for Sports Broadcaster of the Year (BBC and Channel 4).

In February 2013 she was assessed as being one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 and also won the award for Sports Presenter at the Television and Radio Industries Club Awards.

Clare came out as lesbian in her 20s, and when speaking about her experiences said: “I get really upset if being gay — and the fear around it — stops people being who they could be."

Clare is now married to her wife Alice Arnold, and they live with their Terrier Archie.

Leap Sports is spotlighting #LGBTInnovators in sport throughout LGBT History Month this February. We will celebrate a different LGBTI innovator in sport each day. LGBTI sports innovators include athletes, competitors, coaches, managers, community members, founders or co-ordinators of sports groups, someone passionate about their sport.

Got an LGBTI innovator in sport that you would like to shine a light on?

Use your imagination and join the conversation using the hashtag #LGBTInnovators on Twitter @Leapsports and Facebook facebook.com/leapsports.

Find out more about LGBT History Month at www.lgbthistory.org.uk.

Written on 21st February 2016.