Writing for the Financial Times, Emily Cadman cites the Sutton Trust’s 2012 research on educational backgrounds of Olympic medallists.

There is more than a whiff of paternalism about two big campaigns on both sides of the Atlantic to encourage more women into sports.

In the UK, Sport England’s much-praised #thisgirlcan advert — which has been viewed more than 13m times online — revolves around the astounding fact that exercise often involves getting out of breath.

…

Figures from the Sutton Trust also show that of the British women who won medals at the 2012 London Olympics, 46.5 per cent attended selective schools — either fee paying or grammar — but only about 7 per cent of the population are educated privately.

Read the full article here (£)