A host of Team GB athletes have been recognised in the New Year Honours List.
Notable among them are double Olympian Denise Lewis, who has been awarded a damehood for services to sport. The former heptathlete retired from elite competition with two Olympic medals to her name after claiming bronze at Atlanta 1996 and returning to take gold at Sydney 2000. Alongside a successful career in broadcasting and presenting, she joined the Board of Commonwealth Games England in 2016, and recently extended her tenure as President to encompass the Victoria 2026 Games.
Following their landmark victory at the Euros over the summer, several of the Lionesses have also been recognised with honours. Among them are Leah Williamson and Lucy Bronze, who both made their Olympic debut in Tokyo, and Ellen White, who competed at both London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. Williamson receives an OBE, while Bronze and White have each been awarded an MBE. Meanwhile, Welsh captain Sophie Ingle, who competed for Team GB at Tokyo 2020, has been awarded an OBE, and Arsenal captain Kim Little, who represented Team GB at both London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, has been awarded an MBE.
Triple Olympian Lizzie Deignan, who won a silver medal at London 2012, has also been awarded an MBE for services to cycling. Deignan recently welcomed her second child after winning the first-ever Paris Roubaix Femmes last year, and plans to return to competition in 2023.
Key figures in the wider Olympic sport network were also recognised, including Geoffrey Newton, former Vice-Chair of the British Paralympic Association, Nicole Sapstead, former CEO of UK Anti-doping, and Helen Grant, former Minister for Sport, who have each been awarded an OBE, and Jean Watson, Operations Manager at the English Institute of Sport, who has been awarded an MBE. A number of those involved in organising this years’ Commonwealth Games have also been recognised after a memorable summer at Birmingham 2022.
British Olympic Association Vice Chair, Annamarie Phelps CBE, said: “Seeing our Team GB Olympians recognised for their success and hard work during their athletic careers as well as their contributions to society off the field of play is a cause for celebration and pride. Congratulations to all of them and to all those recognised in the New Year’s Honours List from the wider Olympic, Paralympic and sporting family who have such a positive impact on health, well-being and inclusion through their commitment and dedication.”
