Caithness, vice-president since 2006, defeated Canadian Les Harrison, who had been seeking re-election at the annual meeting in Cortina, Italy.

She said: "I’m absolutely delighted I’m really thrilled.

"I think it gives us a chance to move forward with the Federation.

"Four years mark the start of a new Olympic quadrennial.

"I believe there are exciting times ahead especially following the Olympics and Paralympics.

"They were such a huge success [in Vancouver] and I think that we have a product here that’s ready to explode on the world."

Since 2000, Caithness, from Inchbare, has been the driving force behind the development of wheelchair curling.

She was instrumental in obtaining admission of the sport into the Paralympic Games at Turin in 2006.

Caithness has been involved with curling since the early 1980s after she began playing the sport to accompany her husband Ron to his curling ties in Stirlingshire.

She was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC) Ladies Branch in 1997 before moving on to the sport's world governing body.

Caithness said the main aim during the next four years was to grow the sport around the world, particularly in Eastern Europe during the build-up to the next Olympics in Sochi and Asia.

At the same meeting that Caithness was elected, Slovenia became the 46th member of the WCF.

She said: "First and foremost the most essential target problem for me would be make sure that we can find ice to curl on.

"Especially in Eastern Europe and Asia and new countries that are joining the Federation and coming on board with the sport.

"They are keen and very motivated to make things happen but have nowhere to let players or potential curlers play.

"So development of facilities is a key target, combined with junior development.

"This is the future of our federation.

"It’s an exciting time ahead and I’ve got an excellent board who’ve been elected by our member associations today.

"We have a great team to move ahead."

With Caithness stepping up to replace Harrison, who had first been elected in 2006, Switzerland's Patrick Hürlimann was appointed vice-president.

Ben Calveley, UK Sport Head of International Relations welcomed the appointment which ranks Caithness, along with Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, and Sir Craig Reedie, a member of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) ruling Executive Board, as one of the most important administrators in British sport.

Calveley said: "I am delighted that Kate has secured such a prestigious position within the WCF and Olympic sport more broadly.

"This achievement is testament to Kate’s dedication to her sport and to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club who have supported her so well.
 
"The UK has a role to play at the highest level in international sport and Kate is an inspiration to others who wish to serve their sport in the years ahead."

Colin Grahamslaw, the chief executive of the RCCC, said: "This is a great achievement for Kate and also a great honour for the RCCC and the UK.

"I must sincerely congratulate Kate on her election success,

"I am sure her knowledge, dedication and commitment will take our sport forward and we look forward to working with her in the years ahead."

Among the other key decisions taken by the WCF during the meeting were to reject a proposal to reduce he game from 10 ends to eight ends; maintain tiebreaker games to determine playoff teams; keep extra ends; reduce time outs to one 60 second coach interaction with the time clock running and allow electric wheelchairs at WCF wheelchair curling events.

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