10 Facts About Brian Cookson

Michael Brian Cookson OBE was born on 22 June 1951 and is the former president of the Union Cycliste Internationale, having been elected to the post in September 2013 at the 2013 UCI Road World Championships.

Brian Cookson has been credited with turning the sport around since taking on his unpaid role as president and under his presidency, British cyclists have won 19 Olympic gold medals, 28 Paralympic Gold medals, the Tour de France five times, and multiple World Championship titles in disciplines of Road, Track and BMX.

Brian Cookson is married to Sian, has three children and lives in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

Brian Cookson has represented cycling at the British Olympic Association since 1996.

Brian Cookson has been involved in World Championships in France, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the Barcelona Olympic Games.

Brian Cookson made a statement following the doping scandals of the 2007 Tour de France, urging the organisers not to give up the fight for a clean sport.

Brian Cookson was elected at the annual Congress in Florence, Italy, on 27 September 2013.

Brian Cookson completed the Pyrenees Coast to Coast ride in 2011, and competed in the National Masters Track and Road Championships in 2012.

Brian Cookson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to sport, and was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire in 2009.

Brian Cookson was elected a member of the British Olympic Association's executive committee for a third term in October 2005, and again re-elected in November 2007.