British Esports appoints former Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing as Co-Vice Chair

World Champion and diversity advocate boosts national esports federation’s senior leadership team

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The British Esports Federation, the national esports body for the UK, has appointed British former Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing as its new Co-Vice Chair.

She has been a part of the British Esports Advisory Board since September 2022, and has given talks at the federation’s Be The Change Summit on the power of esports, and the barriers which communities and individuals can face when entering spaces which have not traditionally catered for them. 

Alice Dearing is the first black woman to swim for Team GB at an Olympic Games, having competed in the 10km marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She was also a junior World Champion in 2016 and took part in three senior World Championships.

She is also a co-founder of the Black Swimming Association, a part of the UK Anti-Doping Athlete Commission, 2022 Sunday Times Changemaker of the Year, and was featured in the BBC’s 2023 Woman’s Hour Power List. She also received the Kick It Out award for Equality and Inclusion at the 2022 Sports Journalist of the Year awards. 

Alice retired from elite competition just before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and now focuses her efforts on her advocacy work, encouraging more diversity in swimming and esports. She is also an avid PC and PlayStation 5 gamer.

Alice’s fellow Co-Vice Chair at British Esports is Rt. Hon. Lord Vaizey of Didcot, with Andy Payne OBE Chair. You can read more about British Esports’ leadership team here.

The news comes following British Esports’ partnership with Loughborough University, the world’s leading university for sports science, which will put the UK at the forefront of educational resources, high performance programmes and research.

Alice is actually a Loughborough University alumni having studied a politics undergraduate degree and a social media and politics communication masters.

The news exemplifies the continued crossover between sports and esports, and the value British Esports places on competition and the learnings esports can take from sports. It also comes as British Esports celebrates its 10-year anniversary, and ahead of the opening of the 15,000 sq ft British Arena in Sunderland later this year, featuring a 200-seat theatre for tournaments, feature events and audience experiences, as well as an outdoor activation space.

Alice also becomes Co-Vice Chair as Great Britain prepares to compete at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026. 

Alice Dearing OLY, British Esports Co-Vice Chair, commented: “Gaming and esports has been such an important part of my life from an early age, and I am delighted to be able to play my part in the journey British Esports is on to gain greater recognition for British esports athletes and teams. 

“From playing and coaching, to games design and development through to casting and broadcasting, esports offers an exciting career, And as a former olympian, I am incredibly excited to be working with the Board and the British Esports team to build a brilliant future for esports in the UK.”

British Esports President Chester King added: “We’re delighted to welcome Alice to the British Esports team. We’re honoured to have an Olympian of her stature and experience providing input into our operations and work at an important moment in our growth.

“Alice brings an incredible lens into knowing what it takes to be an elite sportsperson, her appointment tying in with our vision to elevate esports performance, for esports players and talent to receive similar levels of support and infrastructure that sports provides, in order to help them be the best they can be.

“Please welcome Alice to our team and we look forward to working together to shape esports in the UK in the future.”

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Contacts

Press | British Esports | press@britishesports.org

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About the British Esports Federation

Established in 2016, British Esports is the national body for esports in the UK. It is the recognised member of the Global Esports Federation for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and founding member of the International Olympic Committee Esports and Gaming Liaison Group. From nationwide amateur grassroots competition to cutting edge esports curriculum and national representation on the global stage, British Esports is dedicated to increasing levels of esports awareness, improving esports standards, and inspiring future esports talent. 

www.britishesports.org 

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About Alice Dearing

Alice Georgina Nana Dearing is an Olympic Marathon Swimmer and global diversity advocate. She became the first black woman to swim for Great Britain at an Olympic Games in 2021, representing a milestone moment for diversity in the sport in the UK.

Her commitment to ensuring swimming is for all led to her co-founding the Black Swimming Association – a charitable organisation that seeks to advocate water safety and inclusion for Black and Asian minorities within swimming. Her work has seen her recognised globally as an advocate for change, including being awarded The Sunday Times Changemaker Of The Year award in 2022 and in 2023 she was announced No.3 on the BBC Woman’s Hour Power list.

Away from water, Alice is a serious gamer, and when not swimming or focusing on her advocacy work – you’ll likely find her playing the latest PC or PS5 title!

www.alicedearing.com