Paralympic cycling star Sarah Storey has been made a Dame in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Storey, who won four gold medals at London 2012 to become Britain’s most decorated female Paralympian, is just one of a number of British sporting stars to have received recognition in this year’s list.
Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis becomes a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) alongside cyclist Victoria Pendleton and rower Katherine Grainger.
Ennis voiced her delight at receiving the honour on Twitter. “CBE it doesn’t seem real,” she said. “What an honour and what a year!”
Cyclist Laura Trott, swimmer Ellie Simmonds and equestrian riders Charlotte Dujardin and Sophie Christiansen receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) following their golden London 2012 performances.
Britain’s other Olympic and Paralympic champions have each been honoured with the Member of the British Empire (MBE), unless they have already been honoured in the past.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed the recognition of those who helped make London 2012 such a success.
“The success of the London 2012 Games was not down to chance – it was down to a cast of thousands of athletes, volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to ensure our city delivered on its promise to put on the greatest show on earth,” he said.
“There can be no doubt that the efforts of Team GB and Paralympics GB provided a truly amazing spectacle, inspiring people into sport, and it is only right they are properly honoured for their contribution.”
Alongside the athletes, London 2012 officials have also been recognised, with chairman Sebastian Coe awarded a Companion of Honour.
London 2012 Director of Sport Debbie Jevans and Director of the Cultural Olympiad Ruth MacKenzie receive CBEs while Jackie Brock-Doyle, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at LOCOG, receives an OBE.
You can find the full list of honours here.
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image: Paralympics GB
